RESCUE workers battled against an incoming tide to save a man who was stuck waist-deep in mud last night.

Firefighters from Strood and Medway were called to the scene at the marina near Knights Road, Strood, just before 10.30pm.

The man was on his way home from a trip to the pub and was trying to climb into his boat when he fell off the jetty.

Strood sub-officer Mark Rosier said: “The tide was out and he smashed into his boat on the way down and injured himself and landed in the mud. We think he was there for about 45 minutes before anyone heard him.”

Other boat owners finally heard the man calling and the coastguard, the Sheerness inshore lifeboat, police and fire and rescue service were contacted.

Mr Rosier said: “When we got there he was well stuck up to his waist and he had facial and chest injuries and was suffering the effects of hypothermia.

“We had the added worry of the incoming tide. We had between one and two hours so it was a fight against time.”

Firefighters used mud lances to release the suction and were finally able to put a sling around the man and lift him to safety after a 45-minute battle.

Mr Rosier said: “It was late and if it hadn’t been for other boat owners he could have gone undetected. The mud is very dangerous - it will suck people in and the more you struggle the greater the grip.”