Birmingham round-the-world yachtsman injured in high seas

A Birmingham man competing in a round-the-world yacht race has been injured in rough seas off the coast of Taiwan.

Nick Woodward, 55, suffered a head injury when he was thrown across the crew accommodation, and another crew member broke a leg.

High winds and seas prevented a coast guard vessel and a helicopter from picking up the two casualties.

Both have since been taken to hospital after the Gold Coast Australia sailed to a port near Taiwan.

Richard Hewson, the Gold Coast Australia's skipper, said: "The force with which Nick hit his head on the lockers beside the bunk was enough to crack the plywood.

"There are no obvious signs of further injury, however, he still had a headache so we evacuated him as a precautionary measure."

The Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race started on July 31 in Southampton last year and will return to the city in July 2012 after 40,000 miles of ocean racing.

All 10 boats taking part are crewed by amateurs.