The Titanic memorial cruise, which has been retracing the route sailed by the ill-fated Titanic 100 years ago, has been forced to turn around after a cameraman suffered a suspected heart attack.

The Balmoral, which set sail from Southampton on Sunday, turned around and sailed towards the Irish coast so that the 56-year-old cameraman could be airlifted to hospital. The ship was then expected to continue its voyage.

In a statement, the organisers of the memorial cruise said: “The ship is turning around and heading approximately 20 nautical miles east to bring it nearer to the coast and within reach of a helicopter.

“Fred. Olsen and Titanic Memorial Cruises are working with the Irish Coastguard to coordinate the relevant arrangements, and making sure that all agencies involved are being kept informed.”

The Balmoral has sailed via Cherboug in northwest France and Cobh on the south coast of Ireland. The cruise is expected to resume its voyage to the site in the north Atlantic where Titanic sank on April 14, 1912. A memorial service had been planned at the site of the wreckage to mark the event.

Relatives of the Titanic are among 1,309 passengers on The Balmoral, for a 12-night voyage which is retracing the route of the famous Titanic.

More than 1,500 passengers and crew died when Titanic hit an iceberg and sank.