A VOLUNTEER lifeboat crew raced to the aid of a man suffering a "medical episode" on a fishing boat off the West Somerset coast.

The crew from Minehead RNLI Lifeboat Station was called to the incident yesterday morning (Friday, December 3).

The man was placed on a stretcher on the lifeboat and carried back to Minehead, where he was placed in the care of an ambulance crew.

A Minehead RNLI Lifeboat Station spokesperson said: "Minehead’s volunteer lifeboat crew was paged at 8.15am to assist a man suffering a medical episode aboard a fishing vessel in Blue Anchor Bay.

"Our Atlantic 85 lifeboat launched immediately, and the man was placed on a stretcher aboard the lifeboat.

"He was assessed by our casualty care trained crew whilst the Atlantic made good speed back to Minehead, landing at 9.02am.

"The man was safely handed over into the care of the ambulance service."