A RUSSIAN sailor had to be airlifted to a Hampshire hospital by Solent coastguards today after suffering from an anaphylactic shock.

The 42-year-old man, who was on board the Southampton-bound vessel Eglantine, needed immediate medical attention after his tongue swelled to three times its normal size.

A spokesman for Solent Coastguard, said: "We received a call at about 8.25am to reports of man suffering from anaphylactic shock who needed to be airlifted to hospital immediately.

"He was administered adrenalin which helped him a little but doctors needed him to be transported to A&E at the Queen Alexander Hospital in Portsmouth where he was met by a waiting ambulance."

The Eglantine had just entered the Solent waters near Whale Island when the emergency call was received.