after being winched off a barge 250 miles east of the Island.

A US Coast Guard helicopter and cargo/refuelling plane flew to the airport yesterday afternoon after Bermuda Harbour Radio received a call shortly after 8.30 p.m. Saturday.

The 894 foot heavy load barge carrier Sam Houston radioed when it was 675 miles to the northeast.

By 8.15 p.m. the helicopter had returned to the Island with the 38-year-old man. At press time the nature of his leg injuries were not known.

The flight out to Bermuda saw the mid-ocean refuelling of the helicopter on board a merchant ship. It was also refuelled during the 2 hour stopover.

Also yesterday in waters close to home, My Desire contacted Harbour Radio reporting a defective engine starter and asking for assistance.

The call came in at 11.45 a.m. and the fishing boat was about a mile northeast of the Kitchens Beacon which is itself on the Island's northeast reefline.

Another fishing boat, the St. David's Light , volounteered to tow My Desire in -- but only after completing its haul.