A teenager is fighting for her life today after suffering head injuries when she fell into Margate harbour.

The 17-year-old girl was seriously hurt when she toppled from a wall and hit a boat before falling into the water.

A Kent Police spokesman today said she remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Up to 40 members of the emergency services were involved in the operation to transfer the teenager to hospital at about 10.30pm on Friday.

Crews from the coastguard, police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and South East Coast Ambulance Service went to the scene along with the Kent Air Ambulance.

Coastguard officer Pete Overton said: "Fortunately the tide was out. If it had been in, she might have drowned straight away.

"One of the lifeboat crew, Dave Melmoth, was in a bar on the harbour arm got to her first and started to give her first aid and get her out of the water. If it hadn't been for him, she might not have survived."

For more on this story, see tomorrow's Thanet Extra.