A 32-year old man from Marsascala was urgently evacuated by an AFM Alouette rescue-helicopter, when he developed severe stomach pains when out at sea with a friend on their 16-foot boat, the AFM said this morning.

Charlot Magro was on a local boat trip yesterday afternoon in a position just off Wied iz-Zurrieq, heading towards Marsaxlokk when he felt excruciating pains in his stomach, that sent pain up through his chest.

The Armed forces of Malta received a distress call at around 3 p.m., and the AFM's Vittoria-class Search-and-Rescue launch Melita-2 was dispatched to the scene to render assistance.An Air Wing Alouette rescue-helicopter was scrambled and both AFM rescue assets met the boaters in a position just off Wied ix-Xaqqa's bay.

An Air Wing rescue-swimmer was dropped into the water to the aid of the ailing boater, who was first transferred onto the Melita-2 rescue-launch, and subsequently winch-hoisted onboard the AFM Alouette helicopter, which conveyed him to Mater Dei Hospital for further treatment.

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