A LIFEBOAT was launched this morning to help a lone yachtsman whose vessel had dragged from its anchorage off the Hampshire coast overnight.

Lymington RNLI lifeboat was launched at about 4.50am after the yachtsman from Ryde had cut his arm while attempting to retrieve his anchor.

The 74-year old had anchored near Hurst Spit but a combination of conditions had caused the anchor to drag eventually becoming trapped under a navigation mark ground chain.

To compound the situation the change of tide has caused the now snagged anchor line to become twisted around the riser. 

Lymington RNLI lifeboat crew arrived on scene to find the gentleman had stopped blood flow from his arm but that the yacht was now firmly aground on the Keyhaven channel edge with the tide falling away.

An RNLI crewman was put into the water to untangle the yachts anchor line and the 28ft yacht was then escorted back to Lymington.

The yachtsman required no further treatment.