A yachtsman was airlifted to James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston, on Saturday morning after being taken ill off the Norfolk coast during the annual North Sea Yacht Race.

A yachtsman was airlifted to James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston, on Saturday morning after being taken ill off the Norfolk coast during the annual North Sea Yacht Race.

The yacht Wambam issued a Mayday call at 5.55am after one of its crew members had a fit during the race from Harwich to the Netherlands, and the message was picked up by another yacht in the race, Nascar 2, and relayed to coastguards.

The search and rescue helicopter was mobilised from RAF Wattisham, in Suffolk, and the man, believed to be from Essex, was winched aboard.

At the same time, Yarmouth coastguard received a 999 call from a small vessel drifting in the Wash with two people on board.

Wells RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched and towed the vessel back to Morston.