Passenger airlifted to hospital

Independence of the Seas is one of the world's largest cruise ships

A man has been airlifted to hospital from a cruise ship off the Lizard in Cornwall.

The medical evacuation was co-ordinated by Falmouth Coastguard after a request was received from the Independence of the Seas at about 1000 BST on Tuesday.

A helicopter from RNAS Culdrose airlifted the 48-year-old man with suspected heart problems to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

A coastguard spokesman said the passenger's condition was not known.

Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas is one of the largest passenger ships in the world.

At 160,000 tonnes, she weighs more than 80,000 family cars or 32,000 adult elephants.

The liner is longer than 37 double-decker buses at 1,112 ft (339m).