COASTGUARDS and a helicopter crew made a dramatic sea rescue after a teenager suffered a head injury while aboard a yacht off the coast of Suffolk.

COASTGUARDS and a helicopter crew made a dramatic sea rescue after a teenager suffered a head injury while aboard a yacht off the coast of Suffolk.

The 16-year-old boy was among the crew of the 37-foot yacht Skipjack, which was participating in the Royal Ocean Racing Club Offshore Race.

Thames Coastguard received an emergency call at 4.40pm from the mobile phone of a crew member requesting medical help.

The yacht, which was about six miles off Sizewell at the time, had also put out a mayday call.

The casualty, who had been hit on the head by the boom, was airlifted by a rescue helicopter from Wattisham Airfield and taken to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.

Julia Marston, from Thames Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, said: “The yacht is one of approximately 80 competing in the North Sea Race from Harwich to Scheveningen.

“We believe there were ten crew aboard the yacht when the young casualty was hit on the head by the boom.”

She said the weather conditions on scene were force six gusting to 30 knots.

N At 5.25pm Harwich Lifeboat was called to assist a windsurfer who had got into difficulties off the coast of Felixstowe.

The uninjured windsurfer was taken to shore and met by the coastguard.

At 7.30pm the Harwich Lifeboat returned to Felixstowe where a yacht had suffered engine failure and lost two sails.

Two people were rescued from the 28ft Sloop Nightwind and brought to shore. There were no injuries.