Dover Coastguard helped to rescue a sick skipper of a yacht with engine failure on Saturday (23 August).

They received a mayday broadcast at 4.51pm from the yacht which was eight miles south-south-east of Beachy Head.

The vessel had suffered engine failure, and was under sail, and the 60 year old skipper had been taken seriously ill.

Dover Coastguard called Eastbourne RNLI lifeboat to launch and Solent Coastguard requested the Newhaven lifeboat to launch.

The Coastguard Helicopter from Lee on Solent was scrambled and the skipper was airlifted off the vessel. His wife remained on board. The crew of the Eastbourne lifeboat brought the yacht back into Eastbourne marina.

Peter Legg, Dover Coastguard Senior Watch Manager said: "The wife of the skipper should be praised for keeping cool during this crisis and for her excellent handling of radio communications whilst waiting for the lifeboat to arrive. Although the weather was sunny, there were south westerly force 5-6 winds on scene making for choppy conditions."