Portland Coastguard aids ill man on boat in West Africa
A member of crew on a boat off the coast of West Africa has received medical treatment thanks to a call thousands of miles away in Dorset.
Portland Coastguard were contacted by the vessel's Dorset-based skipper over the plight of a crew member.
The man, who had a mouth abscess, was working onboard the survey boat more than 3,000 miles away.
The coastguard linked the boat's call to a doctor at the Queen Alexandra hospital, Portsmouth.
A spokesman said: "He didn't know who else to call.
"We linked the two telephone calls together and they were able to give advice."