Pair rescued from sinking yacht

Lee-on-Solent coastguard picked up the distress call

Two men have been rescued from the English Channel off the Isle of Wight after their yacht sank.

A Coastguard helicopter from Solent found the men floating in a small inflatable boat 20 miles south of the Needles at about 2200 GMT on Wednesday.

Bad weather hindered the rescue operation and one of the men was taken on board a passing yacht.

It is not yet known what caused their yacht - the Lycaena - to sink but both men are believed to be unharmed.

One of them was taken to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, while the other was taken to Southampton General Hospital.

Lucy Tanner, watch officer at Solent Coastguard, said: "Two people were found in a dingy mid channel, 25 miles south of St Catherine, their yacht, Lycaena, is now believed to have sunk.

"Both casualties were wearing full foul weather gear and life jackets."