FIREFIGHTERS had to race against the tide in a dramatic rescue of a man stuck in mud on the banks of the River Medway.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service Control Centre received a call to say that a man had fallen from the parapet near the bridge at Rochester and was stuck in mud.

The man's plight was obvious to the crew as as they arrived on the Esplanade, near Rochester Castle, under the direction of Sub Officer Mark Rosier. The man had no way back onto dry land and the tide was coming in.

After discovering that high tide in Rochester was due at 6pm on Friday, the crew decided that immediate action was necessary using equipment on board the fire engine. They quickly deployed their safe access equipment - a system of ropes and pulleys - and lowered a firefighter over the parapet down to the surface of the water.

A rescue sling was placed around the man who, when the firefighters arrived, was in the water up to his knees. In the short time until he was secured in the sling the water had already risen to his chest.

A local man in his boat then took the casualty on board and transported him, with the firefighter, to nearby Rochester Pier where he was taken to hospital by ambulance. He was suffering from hypothermia.

Sub Officer Rosier said that the rescue had been a text book operation and praised the efforts of his crew for the way they had made maximum use of the equipment.

Station Officer Dave Harrison of Medway Fire Station, who also attended the incident, also spoke of the crew's professionalism: "The crew used the safe access equipment perfectly.

"They rescued the man without putting themselves at risk. This was a rapid but effective rescue carried out safely and the crew is to be congratulated for their efforts."