Man airlifted from cruise ship off Shetland

A pensioner has been airlifted from a cruise ship off the coast of Shetland after falling ill.

The 76-year-old was taken off of the Discovery 90 miles east-south-east of Sumburgh at 2.20am today.

The coastguard rescue helicopter was scrambled to the scene and took the seriously ill man to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick, Shetland.

A spokesman for Shetland coastguard said: “The helicopter flew out to the cruise ship and airlifted the gentleman, he was flown to the emergency landing site in Lerwick in Shetland. The helicopter was met by the Lerwick coastguard rescue team and the Scottish Ambulance Service and the man was conveyed to the Gilbert Bain Hospital.”