A SAILOR severed his finger in a winch in front of his wife and four children.

Swanage lifeboat crews were called to help the man, who suffered the injury in Studland Bay on Monday.

The man needed pain relieving gas while a rescue operation was carried out.

A spokesman for Swanage lifeboat said: "The skipper’s injury was bandaged and immobilised and with some pain relief he, his wife and four children were transferred to the all-weather lifeboat to be taken ashore at the entrance to Poole harbour.

"The short journey was then made at speed to land the injured skipper at the landing stage at the entrance to Poole Harbour. The casualty was kept comfortable until an ambulance became available. He was then handed in to the care of the ambulance paramedic."

As the crew was carrying out the rescue they were also alerted to a yacht which had run aground south of Old Harry Rocks. Two adults and children were taken aboard the inshore lifeboat.

The grounded yacht was towed to safety and its crew returned. The yacht with the injured skipper was towed to the RNLI mooring in Swanage Bay.