Man in Minster helicopter rescue

Staff dialled 999 when the man fell ill

A man has had to be winched off York Minster after he collapsed on its tower.

Hundreds of tourists and residents looked on in York as the man was rescued by an RAF helicopter.

The unnamed man is understood to have suffered a heart condition and was taken to York hospital for checks.

North Yorkshire Police said the rescue helicopter was called in from RAF Leconfield by ambulance crews who first attended the casualty.

Clergyman Glyn Webster said staff dialled 999 when the man fell ill.

He said: "Somebody fell ill at the top of the central tower and the staff of the Minster are trained to look out for the signs of illness and they saw these signs and acted promptly in calling the emergency services."