A man says he feared for his life when he was thrown 15ft from a bridge into the icy water below during a revenge attack.

Dael Carter, 37, was walking to a shop in Hythe when he says he was chased by a car and the occupants got out and beat him up.

He says he was punched in the head and kicked all over his body before being thrown from the bridge and into the Royal Military Canal.

Mr Carter's attackers were known to him. He claims they had fallen out about a year ago and has been harassed ever since.

One person has since been cautioned over the incident.

After the assault, Mr Carter says he made his way out of the water, walked to his home in Chapel Street and called the police.

Officers attended his home that night to take details and later drove him to hospital for treatment to his injuries, which include bruising to his head and body.

He had also hit his head on a pole when he was thrown from the bridge.

Mr Carter, a freelance publishing manager, said: "I thought I was going to die that night.

"I feared for my life as I was punched and kicked over 10 times before being thrown from a 15ft bridge into an icy cold canal.

"I was semi-conscious when I went into the water.

"I had been holding on to the railings trying to stop them throwing me in. Because of this, they had been hitting and punching me and I couldn't use my hands to defend myself.

"They were shouting 'get him in the canal'.

"I was fully clothed when I went in the water and I had to swim to the edge. I don't swim well and it was icy cold.

"I really feared for my life."

Police made two arrests but are appealing for further witnesses to the incident.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police was contacted on Saturday, December 5 and it was reported that a man had been assaulted in Military Road, Hythe at around 8.30pm.

"It was reported that the man was assaulted and pushed into the canal following an altercation with two people who were known to him.

"He received hospital treatment for minor injuries.

"Officers attended and spoke to the victim and an investigation is ongoing, including a review of local CCTV footage.

"A 41-year-old man from Hythe and a 32-year-old woman from Romney Marsh were arrested later the same day on suspicion of assault and were then released under investigation.

"The man who was arrested later received a caution."

Police say inquiries continue and anyone who witnessed the incident, or has any information, should call Kent Police on 01843 222289, quoting 46/216044/20.

Read more: All the latest news from Hythe