Atlantic sailor calls his local pub for help

A British sailor seriously injured during a transatlantic voyage was rescued after he called his local pub for help.

	Rescued: Alan Thompson

Alan Thompson, 61, was left in agony after falling on deck and breaking his pelvis on Saturday while sailing 600 nautical miles north-east of Bermuda.

Roger Pocock, 62, the landlord of The Bull's Head in Fishbourne, Sussex, said: "We received a call from him saying he was in trouble. I don't know why he didn't put out an SOS."

Mr Pocock phoned Falmouth Coastguard, which liaised with its American counterparts. US coastguards later helped Mr Thompson off Padolu, his 37ft vessel.

"He was upset at the fact he was going to have to leave it," said a Falmouth Coastguard spokesman. "We put it to him - 'You have to come off, we can't get you treated on board'. In the end he agreed it was the best course of action."