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Crew airlifted from listing ship Crew airlifted from listing ship
(20 minutes later)
Twenty crew have been rescued from a cargo ship which got into difficulties about 35 miles off the coast of Devon.Twenty crew have been rescued from a cargo ship which got into difficulties about 35 miles off the coast of Devon.
The Greek-registered Ice Prince, which has 5,258 tonnes of timber on board, is listing in the English Channel. The Greek-registered Ice Prince, which is carrying 5,258 tonnes of timber, is listing in the English Channel.
Twelve of the crew have been airlifted to Portland by coastguard helicopter. One person is being treated in Dorset County Hospital with a broken leg.Twelve of the crew have been airlifted to Portland by coastguard helicopter. One person is being treated in Dorset County Hospital with a broken leg.
The eight remaining crew are being taken by sea to Torbay where they are due to arrive in about an hour. The eight remaining crew are being taken by lifeboat to Torbay where they are due to arrive at about 0100 GMT.
A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said: "We believe the vessel may capsize later tonight."
'Darkness on board''Darkness on board'
In a statement, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) said an emergency call was made from the Ice Prince at about 1900 GMT on Sunday. The MCA said an emergency call was made from the Ice Prince at about 1900 GMT on Sunday.
Crew reported that the ship was rolling heavily in very poor weather.Crew reported that the ship was rolling heavily in very poor weather.
At 2015 GMT, the MCA said the coastguard received word that a crewman "was in need of urgent medical attention after he had broken his leg in the darkness on board the vessel". At 2015 GMT, the MCA said the coastguard received word that a 41-year-old Greek crewman "was in need of urgent medical attention after he had broken his leg in the darkness on board the vessel".
The crew are all volunteers and you can only imagine how hard this rescue was Spencer Gammond, RNLI
RNLI lifeboats from Salcombe and Torbay were launched and the Royal Navy warship HMS Cumberland, which is nearby, offered its assistance.RNLI lifeboats from Salcombe and Torbay were launched and the Royal Navy warship HMS Cumberland, which is nearby, offered its assistance.
A French coastguard tug is also on its way to the scene from Cherbourg.A French coastguard tug is also on its way to the scene from Cherbourg.
The stricken vessel, which was heading for Alexandria in Egypt, is said to be listing at 25 degrees and drifting without power.The stricken vessel, which was heading for Alexandria in Egypt, is said to be listing at 25 degrees and drifting without power.
The MCA say the seas are rough and the winds are up to force 7. The MCA say the seas are rough and the winds are up to force 7, but there are no reports of any cargo being lost.
Spencer Gammond, from the RNLI, said lifeboat crews operated "at the very limit" to evacuate the ship.
"To stage a rescue like this they would have needed to position their lifeboat right next to the ship and take the crew off one by one," Mr Gammond said.
"Our lifeboat is 17m long and the ship they were helping was more than 100m long, had no power and was listing in force 7 winds.
"The crew are all volunteers and you can only imagine how hard this rescue was."