Ill fisherman airlifted off trawler

A sick Russian crewman is in Southland Hospital after being airlifted off a fishing trawler in the Southern Ocean.

The man was taken off the trawler the Ivan Golubet by the Te Anau-based Southern Lakes Helicopters, 282km south-east of Invercargill, yesterday.

Independent Fisheries, which charters the trawler, said the man suffered from a stomach ulcer and had internal bleeding.

The trawler's doctor had asked for the crewman to be evacuated because his condition was deteriorating.

A hospital spokesman said the man was in a comfortable condition.

- NZPA