Rescuers battle to aid injured crewman

Rescuers are battling to aid an injured man on a fishing vessel of the Mayo coast, coastguards said.

Clyde Coastguard was this morning coordinating a bid to rescue the man, who was injured on a French-registered fishing vessel.

Poor weather conditions meant that a rescue helicopter had not been able to reach the Marmouset, off the west coast of Ireland.

Rescuers had been trying to get to the vessel, which has a Spanish crew, since late last night after the fisherman suffered concussion when he was knocked unconscious.

A Clyde Coastguard spokesman said an RAF helicopter from Anglesey in north Wales was currently on standby at Blacksod, on the Mayo coastline.

He added: ‘‘The vessel itself is progressing to the west coast of Ireland. The helicopter at the moment is sitting in Ireland is still waiting for the weather to lift.

‘‘The skipper has been keeping in regular contact with us to let us know their position and also how the casualty is doing.

‘‘The crewman is conscious now. We have had a doctor speaking to the skipper. The doctor is confident that he is not in any danger now but they need to examine him in person.’’