Coastguard helicopter airlifts yachtsman to safety off Cornwall coast

The yachtsman was evacuated onboard the coastguard helicopter

A French yachtsman was airlifted to safety after a mast on his yacht broke off in stormy conditions off Cornwall on Monday night.

A coastguard helicopter was sent to the vessel, which was about 40 miles (64km) off The Lizard, at about 22:30 BST.

The crewman, who was injured, sent out a "406 beacon" distress signal, coastguards said.

He was "evacuated on board the helicopter" and taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital to be checked over.

The RNLI's Lizard and Penlee lifeboats were tasked to be part of the rescue, and two cargo vessels in the area were also on standby to help.

The man's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Penlee lifeboat station described the weather conditions as "very bad with a westerly force 10 wind, a six metre swell and rough seas and at times visibility limited in squally showers".

Coxswain Patch Harvey said: "The conditions were very poor especially for the helicopter crew who had to dodge flailing rigging but picked up the sailor after he had jumped into the sea to enable the rescue."

Elsewhere, the high winds and big waves damaged a sea wall and swept beach huts into the sea, as the storm named Pierrick by Meteofrance, swept across Devon and Cornwall.