A Russian crewman has died on an MSC containership off the UK.

Lifeboat assistance was requested as the 4,814-teu MSC Sariska (built 1990) docked at London Gateway on 5 January, the Thurrock Gazette reported.

A seafarer was said to be unconscious and not breathing.

Volunteer lifeboat crew member Tony Jenkins from Gravesend RNLI said: "When we arrived on the scene we saw the man had collapsed on the deck at the back of the ship and his colleagues were already carrying out chest compressions on him.