A marine search and rescue team was last night looking for an injured sailor who may have fallen overboard.

The sailor was alone on his ketch and suffering from broken ribs on Wednesday. He refused to leave his boat at sea, and yesterday was awaiting rendezvous with Bermuda Islander, which was making its way from New Jersey to Bermuda.

The Bermuda Islander arrived at the location where the yacht, called Bandit, was supposed to be waiting, however couldn't find the vessel.

The cargo ship carried on towards Bermuda, making calls on the Marine Search and Rescue Channel, but were still unable to make contact with the sailor.

As a result, the US Marine Coast Guard arranged for a C130 aircraft to search the area; and at 5.46 p.m. they managed to locate the Bandit, about 181 nautical miles north-west of Bermuda.

The C130 circled the yacht three times at low altitude, but were unable to get any response to indicate life on the boat.

They contacted merchant vessel BWSB, which was 12 nautical miles away and asked the vessel to make contact. Thirty minutes later it arrived at the site, but weather was too bad at that time to put a small vessel in the sea and find out if the sailor was OK.

As of press time last night BWSB was still on the scene, and had tried for hours to shine lights into the Bandit to get a response.

The search and rescue team is to start searching for a man overboard and were last night also considering a 'drift plan' trying to consider to where the sailor may have drifted.

Early this morning when weather conditions improve, the BWSB is expected to continue its rescue efforts.