A 45-year-old man was last night rescued from his boat and rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital after suffering a suspected stroke.

The victim was aboard the merchant vessel Sun, which was about 280 miles north east of Bermuda as it made its way on a trans-Atlantic voyage to Norfolk, Virginia. The US Coast Guard contacted Bermuda Radio at about 10 a.m. to say the vessel was being diverted towards the Island for the rescue operation.

Two Norfolk-based helicopters called into Bermuda at about 4 p.m. for refuelling, before taking off at around 5.30 p.m. to collect the sick man. They brought him into the Island shortly before 10 p.m., and he was then taken to hospital by ambulance.