Coastguard called to rescue two sick fishermen in separate incidents less than three hours apart

Two sick fishermen were airlifted today from boats off Scottish islands in separate incidents less than three hours apart.

Stornoway Coastguard search and rescue helicopter flew 40 miles north west of the Butt of Lewis at around 11am to take a crewman from a French trawler to the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway. His condition is unknown.

At 2.10pm the Shetland-based Coastguard helicopter was launched to go to the aid another sick fisherman aboard a boat 70 miles from Scrabster in Caithness.

He was taken to the Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall, Orkney. His condition is also unknown.