Leonard Abela, 66, a crew member on board the fishing vessel Seracina, was flown to Malta by helicopter for urgent medical attention on Tuesday afternoon after he was injured in the neck by a fishing hook.

The Armed Forces of Malta's Air Wing's Alouette rescue helicopter was dispatched to assist while the Seracina was about 34 nautical miles to the southwest of Malta. The injured crewman was winched on board the helicopter and conveyed to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment.

Mr Abela was the second person to be medically evacuated from a fishing vessel on Tuesday. An Italian Military Mission helicopter went to the rescue of a Tunisian fisherman who suffered head injuries on an Italian trawler off Malta.

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