A MAN has been rushed to hospital in Southampton after experiencing chest pains aboard a yacht.

Yesterday evening, a man started experiencing chest pains whilst he was aboard a yacht in Newtown Creek.

A rescue operation was then launched with Cowes RNLI lifeboat and the Coastguard helicopter rushing to the man's aid.

The lifeboat had been out in the Solent for crew assessment but was diverted from Stanswood Bay to the emergency just before 9 pm.

On arrival they found the man and a woman aboard a yacht.

A woman paramedic from a passing yacht and the and the winchman from the Coastguard helicopter, who had first been lowered to the lifeboat then tended to the man.

Two lifeboat crew members also came aboard and the couple were eventually transferred to the helicopter which had landed on a nearby beach, by lifeboat.

The man was flown to hospital in Southampton for treatment.