A MAN has been airlifted to hospital following an incident at Watchet harbour today (Friday, August 31).

The coastguard helicopter has been spotted over the harbour along with a number of land ambulances, and Minehead RNLI have also been called out.

Simon Bale of HM Watchet Coastguard said: "We received reports of from a boat which had recovered two men, one was unconscious and one was conscious who had been foundon the outside of Watchet harbour.

"We believe they were teenagers who had been swimming with a group of others across the harbourmouth and these two had been swept out.

"One of them had gone underwater and lost consciousness, however a passing boat pulled them in to the quayside.

"The boat owner and one of the Watchet Coastguard crew members carried out CPR.

"That continued until an ambulance crew arrived who were joined by a local doctor.

"He was then transported by ambulance to the Watchet Memorial Ground where he was airlifted to hospital by an air ambulance.

"He is in a serious condition.

"Our continued safety message is to remind people how dangerous it is to swim in the Bristol Channel due to the fast currents and tides.

"It was a long operation before he could be transported and I would like to thank the passing boat for helping.

"The other swimmers are out safe and well.

"The harbourmaster has been made aware of the incident."

A spokesman for the South West Ambulance Service Trust added: "We were called out at 12.37pm and attended with an air ambulance, a doctor, an operations officer and a rapid response vehicle.

"One patient was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital via air ambulance."