A man has been rescued by the Lowestoft Lifeboat crew and airlifted to hospital this morning (Thursday), after falling from his fishing boat.
The boat angler, who was skipper of a 20ft fishing boat that had one other person on board, got into difficulties after he fell into the sea and was then unable to get back into his vessel off the coast by Corton.
He clung to the edge of the small vessel until the rescue services arrived.
Humber Coastguard received a call from the angler's fellow crewman – believed to be his prospective son in law – about 8am, following reports that a man had fallen into the sea. The search and rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham, Lowestoft RNLI Lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Lowestoft and Gorleston were all called out and were quickly on the scene.
It is understood that the skipper and his crew were a few hundreds out to sea, and were almost in line with the Church of St Bartholomew at Corton when the man was rescued.
He was believed to have been in the sea for 'at least 20 minutes' according to witnesses, and was hanging on the side of his boat when he was rescued.
The casualty was airlifted to James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston and the other crewman was taken ashore by Lowestoft lifeboat.
Bev Allen, watch manager at Humber Coastguard, said: 'An angler fell into the water and couldn't get back into the boat, so clung on until rescue resources arrived.
'Fortunately, the sea was calm at the time of the incident, but we strongly advise people to check weather and tides before they set out to ensure they can handle the conditions.'
A spokesman for Lowestoft Lifeboat said that the lifeboat came alongside the vessel and the man was supported in the water by a lifeboat crew member.
'The men were angling when the boat rolled in the swell and the skipper fell overboard. He was hanging onto the side of the vessel and second coxswain of the Lowestoft RNLI lifeboat crew, Karl Jackson, jumped in to support the man until the helicopter arrived and winched him to hospital.' the lifeboat spokesman said.
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