An 82 year old woman was evacuated from a cruise ship in Falmouth Bay this morning.

Following a call from the coastguard reporting a medical emergency, Falmouth's all weather lifeboat launched at 8.30am to meet the cruise liner Marina at the pilot station approximately 5 miles out to sea, but due to heavy swell the casualty was transferred closer to shore.

The lifeboat's twitter account, @falmouthrnli, tweeted:

The lifeboat, the Richard Cox Scott then headed for the harbour and handed the casualty to waiting ambulance service paramedics just before 9.30am.

An RNLI spokesperson said: "She was carefully checked out by the paramedics, it had been reported that she was suffering from high blood pressure, to ensure she was fit enough to make the journey before they set off for Treliske Hospital."

The crew responded and were on their way to the liner by 8:30am. The transfer of the injured person was to take place at the pilot station approximately 5 miles out to sea. The cruise liner Marina met the all weather lifeboat at the pilot station but found the swell would make the transfer rather difficult, so they came closer inshore to carry out  the transfer.

At 9:25 am the lifeboat was secured at its pontoon berth and the casualty was carefully landed to the waiting ambulance. She was carefully checked out by the paramedics, it had been reported that she was suffering from high blood pressure, to ensure she was fit enough to make the journey before they set off for Treliske Hospital

The volunteer crew then refuelled and washed the salt water off the lifeboat before declaring themselves ready for service again at 9:45am.

 The crew manning the lifeboat were: Mark Pollard (Coxswain); Darren Plaister; Dave Nicoll; Neil Capper; Tom Telford; Jack Chuter and Nick head.