An Italian cargo ship was forced to make an emergency detour to Bermuda after a crew member suffered heart trouble.

The Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre said the Chief Engineering Officer on the Grande Togo needed urgent medical assistance.

A report from the centre said: “In liaison with the US Coast Guard, it was confirmed for the vessel to divert to Bermuda at best speed, where the crew member would transfer ashore to the local hospital.”

The ship, en route from Baltimore to Dakar, Senegal, was met by the pilot boat St George on Tuesday afternoon and the crew member was transported to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The Grande Togo was about 575 miles south-east of Bermuda at about 6.50am on Monday when the SOS call was made.

The vessel remained offshore until a new Chief Engineering Officer could be flown to Bermuda to join the ship.