A lone sailor was airlifted to hospital after suffering a suspected heart attack.

The Wyke Regis coastguard was called at 8.15pm on Friday and a helicopter and Weymouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat were deployed.

A 71-year-old man, who was on passage to Dartmouth, alone, had started to suffer chest and had called the coastguard for assistance.

He was rescued six miles south of Portland Bill. 

The helicopter arrived at the scene shortly after 8.30pm and awaited the arrival of the lifeboat. 

Weymouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat, under volunteer coxswain Tye Shuttleworth, was launched at 8.20pm to go to the assistance of the sailor.

Once on scene the helicopter found that it was unable to land it's winchman onto the yacht so dropped him onto the lifeboat. When the lifeboat was on scene the winchman and a lifeboat crewman were put onto the yacht.

Fist aid was administered to the man before he was transferred onto the lifeboat and then up into the helicopter.

He was taken to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester. 

The lifeboat crew took the 21' yacht in tow back to Weymouth Harbour arriving at about 2am on yesterday.

It is believed that the man was released from hospital at lunch time on Saturday.