A lifeboat crew member injured during a "treacherous" rescue at sea has been discharged from hospital.

The unnamed crewman of the Lizard Lifeboat had to be airlifted to hospital by coastguard helicopter after the incident that took place as the lifeboat was towing a French fishing vessel to Falmouth, during Storm Callum.

The circumstances surrounding the injury remain unclear and he was still recovering in hospital last week.

However, a spokesperson from the RNLI press office said this morning: "We are pleased to say that the volunteer has now left hospital and he is recovering well at home with his family."

The lifeboat had been called out in “treacherous conditions” to help the French fishing vessel Alf when it suffered complete engine failure roughly 22 nautical miles south south-west of The Lizard.

However, almost seven hours into the tow one of the volunteer crew members was injured.

The fishing vessel and her five-strong crew – none of which could speak English – was passed into the care of Falmouth Lifeboat.

Meanwhile the injured Lizard crewman was taken back to the station from where he was transferred by Mullion Coastguards to a waiting coastguard helicopter, to be flown for treatment.

Describing the rescue and subsequent injury, a Lizard Lifeboat spokesperson said last week: “In treacherous conditions the lifeboat arrived on scene over an hour after her launch, and after assessing the situation a tow was attached and the long slow journey in to Falmouth began.

“However nearly seven hours in to the tow an injury was sustained to a member of crew, forcing the Lizard Lifeboat to hand the vessel over to our colleagues at Falmouth Lifeboat.

“Grateful thanks to everyone involved with the service launch, our wonderful crew and shore crew, Falmouth and Mullion Coastguards, Coastguard Rescue Helicopter and our colleagues at Falmouth Lifeboat Station.”