FERRY chiefs have launched an investigation after a teenager was injured when he plunged through a hatch left open on a passenger deck.

The youngster, a psychiatric nurse, was boarding a Red Funnel hydrofoil at Southampton terminal yesterday afternoon when he fell six feet from an aisle between seating and hurt his back.

A fellow passenger and staff helped him out of the hull space before paramedics arrived, placed him on a spinal board and rushed him to the city's general hospital.

Southampton-based Red Funnel bosses are trying to establish why the hatch was left open before passengers were allowed aboard.

Managing director Alistair White said: "We are not in the business of making excuses - our investigations, which started immediately, are deep and thorough.

"The vessel had been undergoing routine maintenance but one hatch had been left open prior to it going to passenger service, which is totally against our procedures.

"Our principal concern is for the passenger who was injured and we are keeping in touch with the hospital."

General manager Nigel Cureton said: "We are unsure as to the extent of his injuries.

"He was assisted out of the hull space through the hatch and rendered aid by a fellow passenger and the crew."

Eye-witness Stuart Hooper, 52, who was also boarding the hydrofoil at 2.40pm, said the teenager suddenly disappeared through the open hatch.

Mr Hooper, from Reading, said: "There was a hell of a crash when he landed.

"We could hear him moaning from below and it was horrible."

A Hampshire Ambulance spokeswoman said the youngster, from the Isle of Wight, fell through to a corridor that led to the engine room.

She added: "Paramedics placed him on a spinal board because he hurt his back and banged his arm.

"The seriousness of his injuries is not known.''

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