Both the inshore and all weather Falmouth RNLI lifeboats were called out to help a criticlly ill seaman in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The crews launched to take paramedics out to the tanker Lizrix moored in Carrick Roads to help a 57 year old man who needed urgent medical attention.

A Sea King helicopter of 771 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Culdrose was also tasked to assist.

The Coastguard requested the launch just after 0.40am and the inshore lifeboat Eve Pank, with one paramedic on board, reached the tanker first at 0.55am.

The paramedic and a RNLI crew member went aboard and administered CPR to the casualty. The all-weather lifeboat Richard Cox Scott arrived on scene at 1.07am and transferred three more paramedics to the tanker.

Because of his condition, the seaman was winched off the ship by the helicopter and taken to hospital.

Falmouth RNLI Deputy Second Coxswain Carl Beardmore said: ‘The weather and sea conditions were good and this call out was another example of the Coastguard, paramedics, 771 Squadron and the RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews working well together’.

Both lifeboats were released from service at 1.35am and returned to station.

• All-weather lifeboat crew: Carl Beardmore (coxswain), Alastair Heane, Luke Wills, Neil Capper, Nick Head, Sam Hall

• Inshore lifeboat Crew: Claire Angove, Tom Telford, John Jeeves