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Injured fisherman taken to hospital            16/2/13

Heavy swell off Lewis forced the coastguard rescue helicopter to abort a planned medical evacuation of an injured fisherman.

It was far too dangerous to attempt to winch the man from the confined deck of the vessel as she pitched and yawed in very high waves some 28 miles north west of Lewis.

The MFV Astra steamed to Breasclete pier and landed the 24-year-old casualty to a waiting ambulance at 6am yesterday.

He was taken to the Stornoway hospital for treatment for a head injury but was later released and returned to the boat.