A Staffordshire businessman is in intensive care after being thrown overboard from a motorboat and hit by its propeller.

Ian Cope, aged 41, suffered serious head injuries off Pentewan Sands, near Mevagissey, Cornwall.

The air conditioning contractor from Knypersley does a lot of work for businesses in the Penkridge area.

He is a regular badminton player with friends in the village and at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre.

Both Mr Cope and his nephew Tyler Cope, 15, were thrown overboard from the motorboat and hit by the propeller on Friday afternoon.

They were struck twice by the boat after it had hit the seabed .

Holidaymakers saw them being flung from the 17ft Dory, which has an outboard engine.

Mr Cope was airlifted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro where he is said to be in a “stable” condition.

His nephew sustained serious leg injuries and was taken to the same hospital, where his condition is described as “stable.”

Paramedics gave the pair emergency treatment on the beach following the incident.

Mr Cope’s son Kyle and his sister were waiting on the beach to take their turn on the motorboat when they saw the accident happen.

Coastguards said the kill cord, which cuts the engine if pulled and is advised to be attached around the leg of the driver, was found wrapped around the steering column when the boat was recovered by the RNLI after it had run out of fuel and hit rocks nearby.

Mr Cope’s next door neighbour in Knypersley, John Ashmore, said Mr Cope was a “very competent boater”.

He added: “His relatives came around to feed and walk the dog. They said Ian had jumped in the water to save Tyler because his foot got stuck. I think Tyler’s leg is quite badly damaged.

“Ian was struck on the head by the boat. He’s had plates put in his skull.”