SUFFOLK: Rescue teams from Suffolk were called into action after a passenger on board a cruise ship was taken ill.

The drama unfolded off the coast off Orford Ness after a holidaymaker aboard the Fred Olsen cruise ship, the Balmoral, suffered a suspected heart attack on Monday evening.

Thames Coastguard was alerted to the drama shortly after 5.30pm.

The ship was around 28 miles from the shore when the RAF rescue helicopter, based at Wattisham Flying Station, was dispatched to rescue the man, who is believed to be in his mid-60s.

A spokesman for Wattisham confirmed the man had been flown to the shore, having suffered from a heart attack.

After assessing his condition, crews flew the passenger to the shore where Felixstowe Coastguard was waiting at the landing site.

The man was taken to Ipswich Hospital by ambulance. However his condition was unknown.

The boat was travelling between Denmark and Southampton at the time of the incident, having left the Danish university city of Aalborg on Sunday.

The ship, which has capacity for more than 1,300 holidaymakers, arrived in Southampton yesterday morning.

A spokeswoman for Fred Olsen said the firm was unable to comment due to client confidentially.

The Balmoral is named after the Scottish home of the royal family.

It has a crew of 510 people and all of its public rooms have a Scottish theme.

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