AN angling and dive boat was at the centre of a rescue mission after one of the fishermen fell ill with a brain virus and had to be airlifted to hospital.

The 51-year-old man from Bovey Tracey was among 10 anglers on board the Dartmouth-based Samuel Irvine 20 miles out to sea off Start Point when he suddenly lapsed into unconsciousness.

Skipper Ian Noble was given medical advice over the radio as a rescue helicopter from Portland was scrambled and sent to the rescue.

Paramedics were landed on the deck of the angling boat where they treated the unconscious man before he was airlifted to Derriford Hospital.

Mr Noble, who operates diving and angling trips from Samuel Irvine, said the man was still in hospital undergoing treatment although he appeared to be recovering.

'He was unconscious and he had slight memory loss which I think has returned. He was very ill but he is not in any danger now,' he said.

He said that the man had suffered what was believed to be some sort of viral infection of the brain.

'He had been sick that morning which we put down to sea sickness,' said Ian.

'He lay down to have a sleep and some time while he was asleep he lapsed into unconsciousness. We tried to rouse him but there was no response.

'I called he coastguard at Brixham and they organised the helicopter from Portland to come out. We had the emergency doctor on the line. We put him in the recovery position. I carry diving oxygen on board and we put him on oxygen.

'We kept him warm and comfortable until the paramedics arrived. They did the usual checks and then winched him off.'

At first it was thought that he ill man was suffering from extreme seasickness or had had a stroke during the angling trip on Thursday last week.

The medical advice over the radio came from the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth while Ian and the anglers waited fro the helicopter.

Ian said it was the first time he had had such an emergency while on an angling trip. He added: 'Normally with anglers you don't have any trouble – maybe a hook in the finger and that's about it.'