A French yachtsman was airlifted to safety after his yacht's mast snapped in stormy conditions off the Cornwall coast on Monday night. The coastguard helicopter was dispatched to the vessel, located about 40 miles (64km) off The Lizard, at approximately 22:30 BST.
The injured crewman activated a 406 beacon distress signal, prompting the rescue operation. He was evacuated aboard the helicopter and taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital for medical assessment.
The RNLI's Lizard and Penlee lifeboats also participated in the rescue, with two cargo vessels in the area on standby. Penlee lifeboat station reported 'very bad' conditions, including a westerly force 10 wind, six-metre swell, rough seas, and limited visibility in squally showers.
Coxswain Patch Harvey noted the challenging environment for the helicopter crew, who had to avoid flailing rigging. The sailor jumped into the sea to facilitate the rescue.
Separately, the storm, named Pierrick by Meteofrance, caused damage to a sea wall and swept beach huts into the sea across Devon and Cornwall.
