A RESCUE mission was launched in the early hours of this morning after a woman fell ill onboard a ferry off the Essex coast.

James Hore

A RESCUE mission was launched in the early hours of this morning after a woman fell ill onboard a ferry off the Essex coast.

The 38-year-old crewmember of a Stena Line ferry leaving Harwich reported feeling very unwell at about 12.30am.

The woman was suffering from severe abdominal pains so a decision was made to call for a rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham in Suffolk.

The crewmember was winched from the ferry to the helicopter during the incident which took place about eight miles from Harwich International Port.

She was taken to Ipswich Hospital where she remains this morning.

A spokeswoman for Thames Coastguard said the rescue operation had been completed without any difficulties.