Lifeboat crews battled force 6 gales to rescue a cruise ship passenger believed to have suffered a heart attack.

The Dover lifeboat was called out just after midnight after a 74-year-old German man was taken ill on the cruise ship Aida Prema, while it was in the Dover Strait bound for Southampton.

Dover coastguard also called for help from a rescue helicopter, which was later stood down, as lifeboat crews headed for the harbour.

Coxswain James Clapham, in command of Dover Lifeboat, said: "It was a very challenging service call to command in Force 5 gusting 6 conditions with a swell of over 1.5 metres."

They evacuated the man through a pilot hatch at sea level.

Mr Clapham prised the eight lifeboat crewman, who safely transferred the man from the 300m ship in such challenging conditions.

They handed over the casualty to ambulance crews at around 1.35am, where he was taken to Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital.

Dover RNLI Press Officer Ed Baker said: “The Cruise Ship’s on-board doctor was able to diagnose and carry out necessary tests in order to confirm the casualty required urgent medical attention ashore via an evacuation rather than waiting until they arrived into their next destination of Southampton”.