A MAN was rushed to hospital after falling from a sea wall.

The incident happened in New Road, Great Wakering last night at about 10.15pm.

The man suffered a broken leg and was taken to Southend Hospital by ambulance after receiving first aid from the fire service and being rescued by the RNLI Southend.

Two fire crews attended, one from Shoebury and another from Leigh.

A spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue Service said: "Crews were called to a complex incident where a man had fallen from the sea wall onto the rocks below.

"Firefighters stabilised the man before giving him first aid. Essex Fire and Rescue Service portable lights helped provide lighting in very dark conditions.

"The casualty was left in the care of the RNLI and the ambulance service at 12:39am."

A spokesman for the Southend RNLI said: "The volunteer hovercraft crew made their way east around the coast to Wakering Stairs, located on the sea wall in the New Ranges, arriving on scene to assist Essex Fire and Rescue and  East of England Paramedics.

"Southend Coastguard team were also in attendance.

"The casualty, who had fallen from the sea wall on to the hard surface below, had injured his leg, sustaining a suspected fractured femur.

"He was attended to and stabilised by paramedics and put in a stretcher and given Entonox, before being transferred to the hovercraft as the easiest and safest way of moving him from the area.

"He was safely ferried by the hovercraft crew to Shoebury Common Slipway along with a paramedic, to be met by the ambulance on arrival, for transfer to hospital.

"Southend hovercraft returned to station for a wash down and refuel ready for service, with Southend lifeboat crews making for home at 2am"