A SAILOR with a severe head injury was winched to safety by a rescue helicopter.
A sailor was rescued during a mayday medical emergency in the Solent.
He suffered a severe head injury while onboard a 44ft boat on Friday morning.
Sailors from HMS Severn which was nearby at the time raced the scene to give first aid.
They were followed shortly after by a Coastguard rescue helicopter which dropped a team of paramedics onto the casualty vessel.
The injured sailor was then winched to safety and flown to hospital.
Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) were also on the scene.
Meanwhile, Hamble lifeboat ferried a sailor left on board the casualty vessel, back into Hamble.
Coxswain James Baggott said: "This was a multi-asset rescue conducted in freezing conditions and difficult seas.
"The crew of HMS Severn did a fantastic job treating the casualty and should be applauded for their fast action."
The incident was the 104th of the year for GAFIRS, an independent lifeboat charity which relies on local public donations.
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