A CREW member on a boat had to be airlifted to hospital whilst out at sea after becoming ill.

The sailor was taken to Southend Hospital on Monday afternoon (May 14) when the RAF Rescue Helicopter from Wattisham, in Suffolk, was called out at about 1.30pm.

The sailor was aboard the Nova K, a windfarm support vessel.

Southend Coastguard met the casualty and the helicopter pilot at the hospital.