Sailor treated for spinal injury after Dublin Bay rescue

A sailor who suffered suspected spinal injuries on a yacht is receiving hospital treatment this afternoon after a rescue operation on Dublin Bay.

The Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboat and Irish Coast Guard helicopter responded to the incident just after 11 o clock this morning, after the mast of a 33 foot yacht snapped in breezy conditions and hit the crew member.

The yacht was taking part in regular Sunday morning race on Dublin bay at the time.

The operation was complicated by the collapsed rigging hanging over the side of the boat that prevented the crew from using the engine.

The yacht was towed by the lifeboat to a yacht club in Dun Laoghaire, where the Coast Guard unit winched the casualty to the waiting ambulance.