FIRE crews have been involved in a dramatic rescue of a man after he fell 50 feet on a ship at Ipswich Docks and sustained pelvic and spinal injuries.

The East of England Ambulance Service were called at 3.45pm to Cliff Road as the man, in his 40s, was trapped in the ship’s hold.

An ambulance and two rapid response vehicles arrived at the ship involved, the Arklow Venture.

A crane at the docks was used to winch down a platform and stretcher. The man and a paramedic were then lifted out of the hold.

A spokeswoman for the ambulance service said the injuries were serious.

She said: “The man is conscious and breathing, he has been taken to Ipswich Hospital with suspected pelvic and spinal fractures.”

A spokesman for Suffolk Fire and Rescue said five appliances attended. He said: “It was an unusual incident but the fire service is trained to deal with any incident. It was a very quick rescue in the circumstances.”