Man critical after yacht accident off Clare coast

A 60-year-old man is in a critical condition in hospital after being injured in an accident on board a French-registered yacht off the Co Clare coast this morning.

The Shannon-based Coastguard helicopter was dispatched to the scene in Carrigaholt Bay at around 5.30am after the man's companions reported that he had been hit in the head by sail boom.

However, he refused to be airlifted and the helicopter returned to base.

The Kilrush RNLI lifeboat was subsequently sent to assess the situation and discovered that the man's condition had deteriorated considerably, prompting the rescue helicopter to be sent back to the scene.

He was taken to University Hospital in Galway, where his condition has been described as critical.