The local Coastguard received a distress call from the 22m vessel, about 14 miles off the west coast, at about 6.10pm, saying one of its crew required immediate medical assistance.
Joburg Maritime Rescue Co Ordination Centre contacted the fishing vessel directly and shortly afterwards asked the local Coastguard to launch the St Peter Port lifeboat to take two paramedics to the boat.
The lifeboat left St Peter Port at 6.39m and reached the boat 40 minutes later.
A French Rescue helicopter arrived at a similar time and lowered its paramedic to the fishing vessel. The decision was taken to immediately evacuate the casualty into the helicopter and transfer him to Cherbourg.
The lifeboat stood by as safety cover whilst the winching operation was under way.
‘This was an excellent collaboration between the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at Joburg, Guernsey Coastguard, St John and the RNLI along with the French military for providing a rescue helicopter,’ said Simon Granger, duty search mission coordinator at the Guernsey Coastguard.
‘All the agencies acted swiftly in sending medical assistance out to casualty and providing the best care possible.’
The fisherman was later confirmed to have died.
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