A BELGIAN sailor had to be evacuated from his ship this morning after a cable snapped, breaking his leg.

An all-weather lifeboat was launched after the Belgian navy minehunter, anchored a mile off Tynemouth, made an emergency call at 6.49am saying the man needed medical evacuation.

The crew of the Tynemouth lifeboat reached BNS Crocus and found the sailor had a broken leg, which happened when a cable snapped as they were hauling their anchor.

He had been given some first aid and pain relief by the ship’s medic but had lost blood from a bad cut to his lower leg.

The RNLI lifeboat volunteer crew gave the sailor further medical help and splinted his leg.

He was then taken aboard the lifeboat and rushed ashore to waiting paramedics at North Shields ferry landing, where he was taken to North Tyneside General hospital, accompanied by his ship’s medic.

Adrian Don, spokesman for Tynemouth RNLI said: “The BNS Crocus had been anchored just off the Tyne and was hauling her anchor in preparation for sailing into the river for a weekend visit to Newcastle “It seems as if a cable attached to the anchor chain snapped, injuring the sailor.

“Our volunteer lifeboat crew did a sterling job in getting the sailor quickly ashore without causing him further distress, as he must have been in considerable pain, though he was putting a very brave face on it.

“The sailor was probably very lucky to escape without more serious injury as snapped cables can be lethal, and we hope he makes a swift recovery.”

Adrian Don, spokesman for Tynemouth RNLI said: “The BNS Crocus had been anchored just off the Tyne and was hauling her anchor in preparation for sailing into the river for a weekend visit to Newcastle “It seems as if a cable attached to the anchor chain snapped, injuring the sailor.

“Our volunteer lifeboat crew did a sterling job in getting the sailor quickly ashore without causing him further distress, as he must have been in considerable pain, though he was putting a very brave face on it.

“The sailor was probably very lucky to escape without more serious injury as snapped cables can be lethal, and we hope he makes a swift recovery.”