Paramedics had to wade waist high through water to reach a man who had stepped on a bait digger's fork which lodged itself through his ankle.

The 21-year-old and a friend had been swimming in the sea at the bottom of Lynton Road in Thorpe Bay when the accident happened at around 2pm yesterday.

The uninjured man ran to shore and called the Coastguard and an ambulance crew to rescue his friend, who was around a quarter-of-a-mile out.

Mark Baker, Thames Coastguard watch manager, said: "The tide was coming in so the paramedics had to wade out about waist deep to reach him.

"He had trod on a bait diggers fork which punctured his foot."

Published Wednesday, August 6, 2003

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