A passenger has been airlifted from a cruise liner off the Norfolk coast after being taken seriously ill.Yarmouth coastguard co-ordinated the evacuation of the 57-year-old man from the P&O Ventura, a large cruise liner which was stationed in the middle of the North Sea.

A passenger has been airlifted from a cruise liner off the Norfolk coast after being taken seriously ill.

Yarmouth coastguard co-ordinated the evacuation of the 57-year-old man from the P&O Ventura, a large cruise liner which was stationed in the middle of the North Sea. The incident was reported at about midday.

An RAF rescue helicopter and the Cromer lifeboat were initially called to meet the liner as it was not clear if a helicopter could be used as the ship did not have a strengthened helicopter landing pad.

But the captain of the Ventura moved passengers away from the top two decks away to clear the helicopter winch operation.

After consulting with the ship's medical staff, the coastguard decided the patient should be lifted to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. He arrived by 3.45pm.

The Ventura, which had 4,800 people on board, was bound for Southampton.