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Four injured during Clipper round-the-world yacht race | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Four injured crew members are still at sea after a wave crashed onto their vessel in the Pacific Ocean during the Clipper round-the-world yacht race. | |
The four, including two Britons and a Serbian-Croat living in London, suffered a range of injuries during a storm, 400 miles off California. | |
The British crew are named as Jane Hitchens, 50, a doctor from Kent, and Mark Burkes, 37, from Worcestershire. | |
Paramedics hoping to parachute in were unable to board due to the weather. | |
Ms Hitchens has four suspected broken ribs and Mr Burkes has suffered a back injury. | |
The other injured crew were named as Nik Brbora, 28, a Serbian-Croat living in London, and Max Wilson, 62, from Queensland, Australia. | |
Mr Brbora, a software engineer, has a possible pelvic sprain, while Mr Wilson 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." | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | "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 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." |
"A deep depression hit the fleet earlier today with winds gusting over 60 knots. First reports described the yacht being caught by a large wave." | |
The rest of the crew are said to be shaken but without injury. Their families have been informed. | |
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. |