Clipper Race Statement: Injured crew member

Nicola Peers, a crew member training in Level 4 aboard CV30, Unicef, has been transferred to hospital following a fall below decks at 1745 BST (Tues 4 August) when the boat was approximately 23nm SE of St Catherine’s Point in 20 knots of wind and moderate sea state.

The medevac was requested with the UK Coastguard by skipper Jim Prendergast following assessment by a doctor on board and consultation with a physician at the Praxes control centre in Halifax, Canada, our remote telemedicine partner.

She has been transferred by helicopter to a hospital in Portsmouth UK. Her condition was reported as stable.

Nicola’s next of kin has been informed.

No one else aboard was involved in the incident.

The yacht will resume training following a thorough crew debrief.

Nicola is a procurement manager from Blackheath, London, and is currently signed up for the second leg of the 2015-16 edition from Rio to Cape Town.

Our best wishes go to Nicola for a speedy recovery.