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Rescue of ship captain restarts Rescue of ship captain restarts
(20 minutes later)
A fresh attempt to rescue a cargo ship captain who was seriously injured in a force 10 gale off the Isles of Scilly is under way.A fresh attempt to rescue a cargo ship captain who was seriously injured in a force 10 gale off the Isles of Scilly is under way.
A rescue helicopter arrived at the Horncliff, 70 miles south west of Land's End, just before 0800 GMT.A rescue helicopter arrived at the Horncliff, 70 miles south west of Land's End, just before 0800 GMT.
Falmouth Coastguard said a paramedic had now been winched down from the helicopter to assess the situation.Falmouth Coastguard said a paramedic had now been winched down from the helicopter to assess the situation.
An attempt to get the captain off the ship was abandoned overnight after becoming too dangerous.An attempt to get the captain off the ship was abandoned overnight after becoming too dangerous.
The helicopter spent an hour hovering over the ship trying to winch the man, who is suffering from serious spinal injuries and internal bleeding, to safety on Friday night.The helicopter spent an hour hovering over the ship trying to winch the man, who is suffering from serious spinal injuries and internal bleeding, to safety on Friday night.
It is expected he will be flown to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.It is expected he will be flown to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.
The exact circumstances of how he suffered his injuries are unknown.The exact circumstances of how he suffered his injuries are unknown.
Two passengers on board have also been hurt - one with a broken hand and another with head injuries - but they are not thought to be serious.Two passengers on board have also been hurt - one with a broken hand and another with head injuries - but they are not thought to be serious.
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.
The vessel had been travelling to Dover carrying a cargo of fruit from Costa Rica.The vessel had been travelling to Dover carrying a cargo of fruit from Costa Rica.
It was deemed to be unsafe to either get the winchman on to the boat or to evacuate the casualty Sqn Ldr Barry NeilsonIt was deemed to be unsafe to either get the winchman on to the boat or to evacuate the casualty Sqn Ldr Barry Neilson
'Pitch black''Pitch black'
During the first rescue attempt, the helicopter from RMB Chivenor reached the vessel just before 2100 GMT having refuelled in Cork in the Irish Republic.During the first rescue attempt, the helicopter from RMB Chivenor reached the vessel just before 2100 GMT having refuelled in Cork in the Irish Republic.
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.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.
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.
"The sea swell was probably between 35 and 40ft and because the vessel had suffered some power failure it was unable to manoeuvre particularly well, which meant that it was stuck riding the swell."The sea swell was probably between 35 and 40ft and because the vessel had suffered some power failure it was unable to manoeuvre particularly well, which meant that it was stuck riding the swell.
"Not only was it pitching up and down 35 to 40ft, but it was also rolling by 20-25 degrees which made, you can appreciate, hovering over it extremely difficult.""Not only was it pitching up and down 35 to 40ft, but it was also rolling by 20-25 degrees which made, you can appreciate, hovering over it extremely difficult."
Sqn Ldr Barry Neilson said it was the type of rescue which only needed to be carried out about two or three times a year.Sqn Ldr Barry Neilson said it was the type of rescue which only needed to be carried out about two or three times a year.
"It was deemed to be unsafe to either get the winchman on to the boat or to evacuate the casualty," he said."It was deemed to be unsafe to either get the winchman on to the boat or to evacuate the casualty," he said.
Sqn Ldr Neilson said communication with the crew had not been easy because they did not speak good English.Sqn Ldr Neilson said communication with the crew had not been easy because they did not speak good English.
There are 31 passengers and crew on board the Horncliff.There are 31 passengers and crew on board the Horncliff.
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, but there was no danger of it sinking.
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.
Police had to rescue about 200 people who were stranded in vehicles in snow on the A66 in County Durham.Police had to rescue about 200 people who were stranded in vehicles in snow on the A66 in County Durham.
The remains closed on Saturday and a Highways Agency spokeswoman said it had started snowing again.
More than 2,000 homes are still without power in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.More than 2,000 homes are still without power in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Icy roadsIcy roads
Attempts to refloat the grounded Irish Sea ferry Riverdance were abandoned on Friday evening and are unlikely to resume over the weekend.Attempts to refloat the grounded Irish Sea ferry Riverdance were abandoned on Friday evening and are unlikely to resume over the weekend.
The vessel beached off Blackpool after helicopters and lifeboats rescued the crew and passengers.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.Less biting weather is expected on Saturday although warnings of icy roads have been issued for many parts of the UK.