A COASTGUARD helicopter and the emergency services converged on the Port of Tilbury this afternoon (Wednesday, 10 March) after a medical emergency was called on a ship heading for Dagenham.

The alarm was raised as a Cobelfret ferry was approaching Tilbury while making a passage of the Thames and a medical emergency was declared involving a crew member.

The Port of London authority contacted the Port of Tilbury who made a riverside berth available and emergency service teams raced to the scene by land.

The Coastguard helicopter was involved and its winch was deployed to help with the rescue, winching a medic onto the ship.