FORMER Riverina paramedic Colin Apps had to be rescued while competing in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race yesterday.Mr Apps, who worked in Wagga, West Wyalong and Tumut while residing in the region, fell while on board She and hit his head, spurring the master of the boat to call for help.She was 15 nautical miles from Ulladulla when Mr Apps was injured at 10.30am.He was picked up by the Marina Area Command launch Vanguard about 12.10pm yesterday and transported to Ulladulla Harbour, where he was met by waiting paramedics.Wagga accountant Paul Samuelson would normally be on board She, but he called it a day after sailing to first place in the PHS division of the renowned race last year.Mr Samuelson said Mr Apps was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital, where he was being treated for a laceration to the head."I've sailed on the boat five times in the Sydney to Hobart ... and (Mr Apps) has sailed on She on one previous occasion," he said."He's actually at Shoalhaven Hospital at the moment with lacerations to the head."Vanguard travelled through rough conditions to meet Mr Apps on She. "The conditions were fairly rough out there last night, a fairly rough storm went through," Mr Samuelson said."He has been pretty lucky, it's pretty dangerous on board being thrown around like that - anything can happen."