A man was taken to hospital after his yacht struck rocks near the Skerries.

Two RNLI crews from Holyhead and the Coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon responded to a Mayday call after the lone sailor's vessel began to sink just off the Platters on Tuesday afternoon.

The Coastguard had lost all contact with the yacht when the all-weather and inshore lifeboats were called out at just after 4pm.

They arrived half an hour later and spotted a red flag floating in the sea, thought to be from the stricken yacht.

The sailor, who was wearing his lifejacket and holding his radio high with one arm, was spotted by the helicopter around 200 yards away from the inshore lifeboat.

He was soon pulled out of the water and found to be severely hypothermic, having been in the sea for over half an hour and swallowed a lot of water.

The casaulty was transferred onto the all-weather lifeboat while the inshore crew recovered other equipment which had been spotted from the air.

The helicopter paramedic then helped to airlift the sailor, who was taken immediately to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

Gareth Owens, a crewman on the all-weather lifeboat, said: "In over 30 years of volunteering, I've never been more sure that we saved that man’s life. A brilliant effort by everyone involved."

Holyhead RNLI coxswain Mark Wade added: "The man was an experienced sailor and thankfully was able to issue a Mayday in time. The sea conditions meant he had been carried away from the initial location."

"Sadly, his vessel was lost, but the fact that he had a radio with him and was wearing a lifejacket undoubtedly helped save his life."

"The fantastic team effort with between ourselves, the HM Coastguard helicopter team and those in the control room, as well as the great support from nearby vessels including the two ferries, meant this emergency call ended so much better than it could have."

"We wish him a full and speedy recovery."