British man seriously injured in boat boom accident at Brest festival

A British man was seriously injured at the Brest maritime festival, after being hit by the sails of a boat he was aboard on Thursday (July 18). 

The unnamed man was hit by the boom (the pole at the bottom of a sail) of the boat he was on around 9.00 as he and the other crew were getting ready to depart the Quai Malbert where it was docked. 

Emergency services rushed to the scene, where they helped the man off the boat and attended to him on the quayside.

He was bleeding profusely and was taken to a nearby hospital.

The age of the man is unknown, but local media reported he was born in 1951. No further updates about his condition have been given.

He was aboard the Letty, a sailing boat built in the UK in 1905, which has previously sailed at other maritime events in France and the UK.

The 52ft long boat was previously used as a fishing vessel in Ireland, before being restored. 

The festival, which takes place every four years, often casts a spotlight on older boats such as the Letty.

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