A SAILOR suffered a 'significant' head injury in an accident aboard a yacht yesterday.

RNLI volunteers and coastguard officials were called away from Harry Paye Day at Poole Quay just before 2pm after the casualty was hit by the boom.

The sailor was thrown into the water.

A spokesperson from Poole RNLI said: "A dinghy sailor had been struck by the boom and received a significant head injury, ending up in the water.

"Conditions out on the water were moderate.

"The volunteers launched very swiftly and arrived on scene within six minutes.

"The lifeboat crew found that the casualty had been recovered from the water by the events safety boat."

Two members of the crew dressed the casualty's wound aboard the boat.

"As the casualty was able to stand, it was decided that the best course of action was to transfer the casualty onto the lifeboat and proceed to North Haven point as an ambulance had been requested to attend," the spokesperson said.

The casualty was then checked by paramedics from Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance’s new mobile unit.