A WINDFARM engineer had to be rescued by helicopter after falling nearly two metres off a jack-up rig seven miles off Kent's North Foreland.

The 35-year-old man, from Singapore, smashed his teeth and suffered chest injuries and difficulty breathing after falling on to his head on to the metal deck of the Dutch barge which is installing the new turbines.

The captain of the barge called for help on his mobile and an RAF rescue helicopter was sent from Wattisham in Surrey after coastguard doctors decided it was too dangerous to transport the casualty by sea.

As the light was fading Margate Lifeboat was sent to guide the helicopter winch through the maze of turbines with their search lights.

Andy Nye, watch officer for Dover Coastguard , said: "There was a danger the helicopter might hit one of the pylons from the windfarm because they were all vertical.

"When we pulled up a picture of the barge we knew it wasn’t going to be too easy because there were metal lorry containers all over the deck and he was lying in between them. The helicopter crew took their time evaluating the situation but in a joint effort with the lifeboat crew they managed to get him out."

The rescue operation on Tuesday afternoon took three hours and also involved Margate fire crew who were called to oversee the helicopter landing at the QEQM hospital.

Mr Nye said: "For health and safety reasons we have to have them on hand just in case the helicopter crashes and catches on fire.

"It’s a very built up area around the hospital so we have to be prepared."

The rescued man is still recovering in hospital.