A Canvey paramedic told how he risked his own life to help rescue a man, who fell from scaffolding,

Chris Tunley, 31 and fellow paramedic Steve Colmer, also 31, braved the danger of collapsing scaffolding after the man fell 20 feet into a narrow alleyway and became trapped.

The Essex Air Ambulance crew flew went to his aid - ignoring the threat of remaining scaffolding collapsing on top of them.

Firemen were called and made the area safe before victim, Reginald Blades, 51, from Clacton, was airlifted to hospital.

Mr Blades fell in Hillview, Bicknacre, near South Woodham Ferrers and suffered an open fracture to his right ankle. The paramedics landed on the scene within eight minutes and Mr Tunley crawled under the scaffolding and administered pain relief and first aid while firefighters secured the rest of the scaffolding.

It took emergency services 40 minutes to remove Mr Blades to the waiting helicopter.

Mr Tunley said: "It was very cramped and we were wary of the gantry. We were careful -, we were very gentle, we didn't want to knock anything.

"Both of us realised the danger and we both knew we could not crash around."

Mr Blades was transferred to Colchester General Hospital.

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