The pilot of the helicopter which winched three crew men off a stricken cargo vessel said it was the most challenging rescue he had attempted.

The Scot Ranger listed to 30 degrees after its timber cargo shifted off Land's End on Sunday night.

The ship - with three remaining crewmen on board - was escorted to Mounts Bay near Penzance for repair work.

High winds and huge rolling seas made the rescue extremely hazardous said Lieutenant Commander Dave Crimmen, of 771 Squadron at RNAS Culdrose.

He was called in at 2300 GMT after Falmouth Coastguards decided it would be safest to winch the crewmen off the 2,000-tonne vessel.

Lt-Cdr Crimmen said: "The waves were about 25 to 30 feet high.

"The ship was going from being under water to being so far out of water you could see the propeller turning.

"I had never come across anything as hard as this before."

Lt-Cdr Crimmen: Three hoisted to safety

Three of the crew were lifted off one at a time and one appeared to be in shock. He is in a stable condition at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske, Truro.

The ship was escorted by the Falmouth Coastguard tug, the Far Sky.

Captain Glen Covell praised the actions of the remaining crew for keeping the ship afloat.

"There is timber on deck which is leaning to one side, but it is still all on board and is in one place."

The plight of the Scot Ranger has evoked memories of the 6,000-tonne Kodima, which was driven ashore in gales in February.

It was also carrying a cargo of timber, most of which was washed ashore.