Man dies after medical emergency off coast

A man has died after a medical emergency on a French fishing vessel about 14 miles (22km) off Guernsey's west coast.

A distress call was received at about 18:10 BST on Monday and the St Peter Port Lifeboat was launched with two St John paramedics on board, according to the Guernsey Coastguard.

The seven-crew Spirit of Guernsey lifeboat reached the 22m (72 ft) trawler around the same time as a French military helicopter which lowered paramedics on board to the boat.

The man was airlifted by the helicopter to Cherbourg, France, where he was pronounced dead, Guernsey Coastguard said.

The lifeboat stood by as safety cover while the winching operation was under way to evacuate the man from the boat to the helicopter.

Search mission coordinator Simon Granger said the operation involved "an excellent collaboration" between the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at Joburg, Guernsey Coastguard, St Johns, the RNLI and the French military.

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