A Lizard Lifeboat crew member has been injured during a rescue out at a sea and airlifted to hospital.

The lifeboat had been called out in “treacherous conditions” yesterday afternoon, to help a French fishing boat roughly 22 nautical miles south south-west of The Lizard.

However, almost seven hours into the tow one of the volunteer crewmembers was injured; the circumstances surrounding the injury are currently unclear.

The extent of the injuries is not known, but the crew member had to be airlifted to hospital by the coastguard rescue helicopter. Mullion Coastguards were also called out to help transfer the casualty.

The French fishing boat, Alf, and her five-strong crew – none of which could speak English – was passed into the care of Falmouth Lifeboat, which continued the tow back to Falmouth, as the French vessel had suffered complete engine failure.

Describing the rescue and subsequent injury, a Lizard Lifeboat spokesperson said: “In treacherous conditions the lifeboat arrived on scene over an hour after her launch, and after assessing the situation a tow was attached and the long slow journey in to Falmouth began.

“However nearly seven hours in to the tow an injury was sustained to a member of crew, forcing the Lizard Lifeboat to hand the vessel over to our colleagues at Falmouth Lifeboat.

“Grateful thanks to everyone involved with the service launch, our wonderful crew and shore crew, Falmouth and Mullion Coastguards, Coastguard Rescue Helicopter and our colleagues at Falmouth Lifeboat Station.”

A Mullion Coastguards spokesperson said: “Best wishes to the injured crew member.”