Amer Sports One crewman Keith Kilpatrick, taken seriously ill on the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, has decided not to continue in the race on medical advice.

Keith was taken off Amer Sports One at Eclipse Island off the coast of Western Australia after being diagnosed with an intestinal blockage, which has since cleared.

Keith announced: ‘After consulting several specialists it has been decided it is in my best interests to go home to California and recuperate.’

‘It has become evident that the trauma experienced by my body is more severe than previously thought. After recuperating for about two months I will be totally fit.’

‘Obviously I will not be sailing on the next two legs (from Sydney to Auckland and Auckland to Rio de Janeiro) so in the best interests of the team I have decided to step aside so that a permanent replacement can be made.’

Amer Sports One skipper Grant Dalton said Keith was disappointed, but understood the need for Keith to recuperate fully.