A pilot forced to ditch his plane in the sea during yesterday's Herne Bay air show is to continue flying after miraculously escaping serious injury.

Stunt pilot Colyn Randall was part of the Turbulent Display Team's routine when his single-seater plane ran into engine problems.

Mr Randall, who started flying in 1976, ditched his aircraft in the shallows near Bishopstone Glen between Herne Bay and Reculver.

He was able to walk away with only minor injuries after brave spectators - including maths teacher Michael Cox - waded into the water to help him.

Turbulent Display Team spokesman Samantha Williams said Mr Randall realised during the display that there was a problem with his aircraft's engine.

She said: "The pilots are always checking for problems and when he was aware there was one he broke away from the formation.

"He looked to see if there was any way he could solve the problem, but there wasn’t a way so he called mayday and ditched it in the water away from the display line and any people.

"It was what we would call a textbook example."

Mrs Williams added that Mr Randall is keen to return to flying, with the Turbulent Display Team next performing at an air show in Surrey during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

VIDEO: The plane ditches into the sea

She added: "He has got a full bill of health to fly again.

"He is fine - he had to go to hospital for what may had been a broken nose, but it was just cuts.

"He is overwhelmed by the reaction from the public who rushed to his aid – he is amazingly grateful for their wonderful assistance.

"He is fully fit – he does not need to recover, he is just with his family."

Air show commentator and aviation expert Sean Maffett said issues are rare with the 1,600cc VW engines found in Turbulent Display Team aircraft.

He said: "The aeroplane dates back to the 1960s and all of the Turbulent team were hand-built and have been flying around for a long time.

"They had a small spate of engine problems 20 years ago, but these kind of things can happen to anybody at any time.

"He has got a full bill of health to fly again..." - Samantha Williams

"It probably says quite a lot for the safety of the event that the emergency services were on the scene quite quickly, but of course by then the public had done much of what was needed."

He added: "I think the important thing about it is that the pilot obviously realised that there was something wrong and made what was a really wise decision to put it down fairly quickly.

"The brilliant thing about it was the spectators who were all absolute heroes – there was one person going in even before the aeroplane had stopped."

A spokesman from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch confirmed today that a team has been deployed to investigate the accident.