A man was airlifted from a boat near Great Yarmouth this morning after an engine fire.

Humber Coastguard were called by the vessel Norfolk Tern shortly after 8am saying there was a fire in their starboard engine.

They said although it was under control one person was thought to be suffering from the effects of breathing in too much smoke.

The Lowestoft and Gorleston Coastguard Rescue Teams, the search and rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham along with the RNLI all-weather lifeboats from Lowestoft and Gorleston were sent to the scene, about four nautical miles off the Great Yarmouth coast.

The injured crewman was taken on board the RAF helicopter and transported directly to the James Paget University Hospital.

The other five crew members stayed on the Norfolk Tern, a wind farm support vessel, to help bring it into Great Yarmouth where they were met by Coastguard Rescue Officers and ambulance and fire crews.

Bev Allen, Watch Manager at Humber Coastguard, said: “All six on board this vessel managed to quickly bring the fire under control, but one member of the crew was in need of medical attention after showing signs of breathing in too much smoke.

“The standby vessel Vos Discovery also provided excellent support in transferring oxygen for the injured person.”