Sailor in mast ordeal

THE Newhaven Lifeboat rescued a woman who became stuck up a mast at sea after breaking her arm.

During the crew's routine Sunday morning exercise with the Brighton Lifeboat, the Coastguard requested they go to the aid of the 30ft yacht J-spot which had run into trouble a quarter of a mile off Brighton Marina.

The yacht's crew had been trying to lower the sail when a line got caught and wrapped itself around the propeller. A female crew member had been attempting to free the sail part way up the mast in a bosun's chair when she was thrown against the mast, breaking her upper arm and cutting her hand.

The woman, who was in considerable pain, dangled from the mast as rescuers scaled it to get her down.

Newhaven Lifeboat spokeswoman Pat Johns said: 'With the help of the Brighton Lifeboat we transferred our paramedic and ambulance technician on to the yacht.

'She was gently lowered on to the deck where she was treated whilst the yacht was towed into Brighton Marina by the Newhaven Lifeboat.'

The Lifeboat was met at Brighton Marina by an ambulance and the woman taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital.