THE RAF rescue helicopter was called to a wind farm construction vessel off Clacton.
Fears were raised that a crewman had suffered a spinal injury onboard the platform, which is building turbines at the Gunfleet Sands wind farm, six miles off Clacton.
The helicopter was called to the scene by Thames Coastguard following a call from the vessel at about 12.35pm on Monday.
Flight lieutenant Bob Dewes, from RAF Wattisham, said: “We landed on their helipad – where the man was already on a stretcher.
“The man was taken to hospital because he had a worsening back condition – there was no accident.
“He had a suspected slipped disc and was in quite a lot of pain.”
The man was helped by winchman Sgt Greig Allan before being flown to Colchester General Hospital for treatment, where he was also met by the Clacton Coastguard’s rescue team.
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