AN ESSEX firefighter bravely grabbed the foot of an elderly man as he dangled from his roof this afternoon.

AN ESSEX firefighter bravely grabbed the foot of an elderly man as he dangled from his roof this afternoon.

The man in his 70s became trapped on his roof in Hadleigh Road, Frinton prompting the dramatic rescue.

As crews were helping the man down from the roof he slipped.

But thanks to the quick work of a firefighter on the scene, grabbing the man's ankle stopping him from falling to the ground, the pensioner did not suffer serious injury.

Crews were called to the incident at around 2pm, using ladders to help the man down safely.

Station Officer Lee Palfryman, in charge at the scene said: “As crews were helping the man down from his roof he slipped as soon as he stepped away from the apex of the roof and one of the firefighters grabbed him by the ankle and stopped him from falling to the ground.

“We had to get a second ladder while three firefighters held onto him to make sure he didn't fall.

“Crews eventually got him safely back down on the ground.

“They did a fantastic job and it is thanks to their quick reactions that this elderly man did not suffer serious injury.”

The elderly man was safely back on solid ground by 4.15pm.