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Injured captain winched off ship Injured captain winched off ship
(about 1 hour later)
A cargo ship captain who was seriously injured in a force 10 gale off the Isles of Scilly has been winched on to a helicopter and taken to hospital. A cargo ship captain who was seriously injured in a force 10 gale off the Isles of Scilly is in hospital after being rescued by helicopter.
The rescue helicopter arrived at the Horncliff, 70 miles south west of Land's End, just before 0800 GMT. The aircraft lifted six other people from the ship 70 miles off Land's End. Two of them had less serious injuries.
Six other people were also rescued. The captain and two people with less serious injuries have been taken to hospital in Truro, Cornwall. The injuries are said to have occurred when a giant wave hit the vessel and the cargo shifted.
Rescue attempts were abandoned overnight because of the danger. Rescue attempts had to be abandoned overnight because of the extreme weather conditions and darkness.
The helicopter spent an hour hovering over the ship on Friday night in a failed attempt to winch up the captain, who is suffering from serious spinal injuries.
The exact circumstances of how he suffered his injuries are unknown.
The coastguard tug has been tasked to go and stand by Henry Purbrick, Falmouth CoastguardThe coastguard tug has been tasked to go and stand by Henry Purbrick, Falmouth Coastguard
Two other people were injured - one has a broken hand and another has head injuries. They are not thought to be seriously hurt. After Saturday's successful mission, Chief Petty Officer Dave Rigg said: "We pitched up on scene. I got lowered down on to the deck, went in, assessed the three casualties first.
"They were all fairly stable so whilst I was doing that I called for my colleague from the Ambulance Service.
"He then assisted me getting them into the stretcher - we then got the casualties into the aircraft and made our way back."
Chief Petty Officer Rigg said it was frightening for the passengers
He said the injured people told him they were hurt when a violent wave hit the boat.
"The cargo then shifted and bounced them across the bridge hitting obstacles, obstructions and each other, it was pretty frightening for them."
He said four uninjured people had been taken to a hotel.
Two of them, German tourists on their honeymoon, told the BBC it was very frightening.
The said it was good to be on dry land and described it as a "very special honeymoon".
The ship is now sailing towards Falmouth and is expected to arrive later on Saturday.The ship is now sailing towards Falmouth and is expected to arrive later on Saturday.
Henry Purbrick from Falmouth Coastguard said: "The coastguard tug has been tasked to go and stand by and escort them in.Henry Purbrick from Falmouth Coastguard said: "The coastguard tug has been tasked to go and stand by and escort them in.
"They will be anchored out side Falmouth because they've only got one anchor - they've lost an anchor at some stage."They will be anchored out side Falmouth because they've only got one anchor - they've lost an anchor at some stage.
"Then surveyors from Falmouth will go and survey the vessel and decide where they go from there.""Then surveyors from Falmouth will go and survey the vessel and decide where they go from there."
'Pitch black''Pitch black'
During the first rescue attempt, a helicopter from RMB Chivenor in Devon reached the vessel just before 2100 GMT having refuelled in Cork in the Irish Republic. During the first rescue attempt, a helicopter hovered over the ship for nearly an hour.
But after nearly an hour hovering over the ship trying to get the injured man off, assisted by a Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft from Scotland, the attempt had to be abandoned.
A helicopter from RNAS Culdrose rescued the seven peopleA helicopter from RNAS Culdrose rescued the seven people
Flt Lt Jonathan Singh, the captain of the helicopter, said the conditions were "horrendous".Flt Lt Jonathan Singh, the captain of the helicopter, said the conditions were "horrendous".
"It's obviously pitch black out there, it's extremely dark with no sort of cultural lighting at all at that distance from land," he said."It's obviously pitch black out there, it's extremely dark with no sort of cultural lighting at all at that distance from land," he said.
There were 31 passengers and crew on board the Horncliff, which had been travelling to Dover carrying a cargo of fruit from Costa Rica. There were 31 passengers and crew on board the ship, the Horncliff, which had been travelling to Dover carrying a cargo of fruit from Costa Rica.
Falmouth Coastguard said the vessel, which lost about 90 containers of fruit in the storm, had suffered some damage and was listing slightly, but there was no danger of it sinking. Falmouth Coastguard said the vessel, which lost about 90 containers of fruit in the storm, had suffered some damage and was listing slightly.
The Horncliff, a 12,887-tonne cargo ship which is flying the Liberian flag, was built in 1992.The Horncliff, a 12,887-tonne cargo ship which is flying the Liberian flag, was built in 1992.
Power cutsPower cuts
Elsewhere in the UK the extreme weather conditions have left thousands of homes without power and caused chaos on the roads.Elsewhere in the UK the extreme weather conditions have left thousands of homes without power and caused chaos on the roads.
Blizzards swept across Scotland and northern England on Friday and winds reached 80 mph bringing down many trees.Blizzards swept across Scotland and northern England on Friday and winds reached 80 mph bringing down many trees.
One carriageway of the A66 in County Durham has now reopened after heavy snow trapped 200 drivers and passengers who had to be rescued. The A66 in County Durham has now reopened after heavy snow trapped 200 drivers and passengers who had to be rescued.
About 1,600 homes are still without power in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.About 1,600 homes are still without power in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Icy roads Experts have boarded the Irish Sea ferry Riverdance which beached off Blackpool after helicopters and lifeboats rescued the crew and passengers.
Attempts to refloat the grounded Irish Sea ferry Riverdance were abandoned on Friday evening and are unlikely to resume on Saturday.
The vessel beached off Blackpool after helicopters and lifeboats rescued the crew and passengers.
Fourteen crewmen were also flown to safety after their trawler, The Spinning Dale, was pushed into rocks off St Kilda in the Western Isles on Friday.Fourteen crewmen were also flown to safety after their trawler, The Spinning Dale, was pushed into rocks off St Kilda in the Western Isles on Friday.
Less biting weather is expected on Saturday although warnings of icy roads have been issued for many parts of the UK.