A young child escaped serious injury when he fell about 25 feet over a bannister at a Clacton hotel.

The five-year-old, who has not been named, dropped to the floor below and complained of pains in various parts of his body.

Paramedics were on the scene at the Royal Hotel on Marine Parade East within minutes of the incident.

It was decided to call in the Essex Air Ambulance to fly the boy to Colchester just after 4.30pm yesterday.

The manager of the hotel, who did not want to be named, said the boy was staying at the premises with his mother.

"I am not sure what happened but the boy fell over the bannister and landed on the floor below," she said.

"It was a reasonable drop and he was complaining of pains. I don't think he was too seriously hurt but they decided to take him by helicopter to look him over."

It was believed the youngster was suffering from internal injuries and was flown to Severalls Hospital in Colchester.

He was taken by an ordinary ambulance to Colchester General Hospital.

A spokesman today said he was doing very well.

It was believed the youngster was suffering from internal injuries after falling around 25ft over the bannister.

He was flown to the landing pad at Severalls Hospital in Colchester. The manager said that she had telephoned for the ambulance.

She then stayed with the boy's mother and a friend making sure that they did not move him before the paramedics arrived.

Police then closed off the road so that the boy could be taken by an ordinary ambulance to Colchester General Hospital.

A spokesman for the Essex Air Ambulance said it was decided to send the helicopter to the incident - even though it had already been out longer than it should have been.

"Because this was was a young lad and bearing in mind the circumstances we decided to take the job," he said.

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