A WOMAN has suffered head injuries after being hit by the boom of a sailing boat.

The incident happened in the Solent near Browndown and the yacht issued a mayday call at about 1pm on Sunday.

Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) was called to help the woman and found the vessel in less than four minutes.

GAFIRS lifeboat coxswain Peter Byford said: "We placed two crew members on board the vessel who assessed the casualty.

"Because she was complaining of neck and back injuries the crew immobilised the woman as a precautionary measure.

"We escorted the vessel back to Portsmouth Harbour where she was transferred into the care of the ambulance service at Camber Dock."