A WOMAN is recovering at home today after being airlifted to hospital from a yacht on the River Deben after suffering a head injury.The woman – who has not been named – suffered the injury as the vessel crossed the North Sea from Holland.

A WOMAN is recovering at home today after being airlifted to hospital from a yacht on the River Deben after suffering a head injury.

The woman – who has not been named – suffered the injury as the vessel crossed the North Sea from Holland.

Coastguards said it was believed she was struck by the boom and knocked unconscious.

As the yacht neared Felixstowe Ferry, the master sent an urgent request for help as the condition of the crew member had worsened.

A spokesman for Thames Coastguard said the harbourmaster went out to the yacht, moored in the Deben, and called in to say medical help was needed.

The spokesman said: "We called an ambulance and the harbourmaster took a paramedic out to the craft on the foot ferry.

"The woman was suffering from a neck and head injury and the paramedic thought her condition was worsening and that it would not be possible to get her off the yacht onto the ferry and back to land, so we called the RAF helicopter."

A Wattisham spokeswoman said the search and rescue helicopter had attended the incident at about 3pm on Wednesday and winched the woman on board on a stretcher.

She was then taken to Ipswich Hospital for treatment for her injuries, which she is understood to have sustained about 11pm the previous day.

It is understood the woman has since been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.