A patient being airlifted to hospital by helicopter was helped by Exmouth coastguards on Monday night.

The town’s coastguard rescue officers were tasked shortly before 9.30pm to assist an RAF Sea King helicopter crew carrying a patient to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

A Portland coastguard spokesperson said: “Exmouth coastguard rescue officers were tasked to assist an RAF Sea King RESCUE-169 conducting a medical evacuation, inbound to the Exeter hospital helicopter landing site.

“Once the aircraft had landed and passed the patient to an awaiting ambulance, coastguards were released.”