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Three injured Britons at sea in Pacific yacht race | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Three injured Britons and one Australian are still at sea after a wave crashed onto their vessel in the Pacific Ocean during a yacht race. | |
They suffered a range of injuries during a storm, 400 miles off the California coast. | |
The British crew are named as Jane Hitchens, 50, from Kent, Mark Burkes, 37, from Worcestershire, and Nik Brbora, 28, from London. | |
Paramedics hoping to parachute in were thwarted by the weather. | |
Ms Hitchens has four suspected broken ribs, Mr Burkes has suffered a back injury and Mr Brbora has a possible pelvic sprain. | |
The other crew member was named as Max Wilson, 62, from Queensland, Australia, who has two suspected cracked or broken ribs. | The other crew member was named as Max Wilson, 62, from Queensland, Australia, who has two suspected cracked or broken ribs. |
US coastguard Levi Read said: "The weather conditions were not conducive to allow the jumpers from the aircraft. Because of fuel concerns, the aircraft had to return to land with the jumpers." | |
Medical supplies have been successfully dropped to the vessel. | |
A 418-ft US national security cutter - fitted with a flight deck - is now being diverted to the accident. | |
A long-range response helicopter has been launched from San Diego, California and will land on the US vessel, before approaching the clipper. | |
Mr Read said he expected the coastguard helicopter would move above the vessel and lower in a rescue swimmer who would evaluate the injuries. | |
"They will decide whether they need to evacuate those injured people aboard the helicopter and take them to the closest medical resources," he added. | |
The crew were taking part in the biennial Clipper Round The World Yacht Race in one of 10 UK registered 68-foot yachts, the Geraldton Western Australia. | |
The wave hit the boat in storm conditions on Saturday, sweeping away its steering wheel and mount and some of its communications equipment. | The wave hit the boat in storm conditions on Saturday, sweeping away its steering wheel and mount and some of its communications equipment. |
Race director Joff Bailey said: "We are naturally concerned at the recent incident on Geraldton Western Australia and are in close contact with the skipper, UK Maritime and Coastguard at Falmouth and the US coast guard. | Race director Joff Bailey said: "We are naturally concerned at the recent incident on Geraldton Western Australia and are in close contact with the skipper, UK Maritime and Coastguard at Falmouth and the US coast guard. |
"The safety of all Clipper Race crew is extremely important to us. Our skippers are highly experienced and several crew members on board have medical training." | "The safety of all Clipper Race crew is extremely important to us. Our skippers are highly experienced and several crew members on board have medical training." |
The 40,000-mile (64,500km) race, which features predominantly amateur crews, started in Southampton in July. | The 40,000-mile (64,500km) race, which features predominantly amateur crews, started in Southampton in July. |