A 69-year-old man has been airlifted to hospital in a stable condition after he became unconscious while fishing at Melville Island this afternoon.

The man reportedly become unconscious while in a boat fishing with friends.

CareFlight, operating the Top End Medical Retrieval Service on behalf of the Northern Territory Government, tasked the NT Rescue Helicopter with flight doctor and flight nurse aboard shortly after 4pm.

The team landed in a clearing about 50 metres from a camp ground where the patient had been taken after coming ashore.

The man had regained consciousness when CareFlight’s doctor and nurse provided initial treatment.

The crew were helped by the patient’s friends at the scene.

The man was flown to Royal Darwin Hospital in a stable condition.

CareFlight’s team would like to thank all involved for their help.