A CREW member on Glasgow�s round-the-world clipper was swept overboard in 30ft waves early today.

A CREW member on Glasgow's round-the-world clipper was swept overboard in 30ft waves early today.

A dramatic rescue operation was launched in the pitch darkness after 42-year-old David Jack from Kirkintilloch plunged into the water while changing sails in Force 7 winds.

He was thrown off with such force that his safety harness tore and his life jacket was ripped off.

The Glasgow: Scotland with Style was manoeuvred so it could spin in circles as crew members desperately tried to locate their colleague.

Within nine minutes, he'd been pulled from the water and was treated on board for hypothermia and shock.

The drama happened in the Southern Ocean, 600 nautical miles off South Africa.

Gordon Ritchie, head of Clipper Project in Glasgow, said: "It's virtually unheard of for a life jacket to be torn off. The water would have been freezing and the waves 20ft to 30ft high."

He also praised the crew, and skipper Hannah Jenner, saying: "Hannah is just 27 years old and it was remarkable for her to co-ordinate something like this. The entire crew deserve enormous credit. The odds of pulling off a successful rescue like this are incredible.

"It's remarkable that they managed to locate him within nine minutes.

"It was pitch dark and blowing a gale. It was remarkable seamanship."

Sir Robin Knox Johnston, chairman of the Glasgow clipper, added: "Hannah Jenner and her crew demonstrated excellent seamanship throughout the incident."

The rescue came as Briton Tony Peters had to be airlifted to hospital from the Clipper New York after suffering head injuries when a large wave swept him across the boat.

He's recovering in a Durban hospital, and hopes to be fit enough to rejoin the race.