Paramedics rushed to the aid of a one-year-old baby in West Mersea - as the rising tide threatened to block their route back to the mainland.

Essex Ambulance Service dispatched a rapid response vehicle to Trinity Close at 12.11am on Tuesday, after the youngster developed breathing problems.

Concerned control room staff discovered the high tide was due at 1.02am, and called both the coastguard and the West Mersea RNLI inshore lifeboat, in case the car was unable to make the return journey across the Strood.

In the end, the relieved crew managed to cross unaided as a Mersea Coastguard boat waited to spring into action.

The child was diagnosed with croup and taken to Colchester General Hospital.

Published Friday, January 28, 2005

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