A MAN believed to have suffered a stroke was airlifted from a cruise ship off the Isle of Wight last night (Sunday).

The alarm was raised on the Queen Victoria, around seven miles off St Catherine's Point, shortly before 9pm.

A UK Coastguard spokesman said it was believed the elderly man had suffered a stroke.

He was was airlifted from the ship by the coastguard helicopter and taken to Southampton General Hospital.

The Cunard ship continued on its way to Bermuda.