A man has been rescued from the banks of the River Medway after apparently stumbling over the river wall in Chatham.

The emergency services were called out to the river close to Anchorage House, in the High Street, at about 3pm today after builders working on flats nearby spotted the man on mud banks.

It is believed the man fell onto rocks before rolling onto the mud, where he was discovered.

The 43-year-old suffered head and abdomen injuries and remains in a serious condition.

Firefighters, the Medway coastguard team and paramedics, including a HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) doctor from the Kent Air Ambulance were sent to the scene.

Fire crews tied a stretcher to a rope and were able to get the man in it and lift him back up to safety.

The injured man was then taken by land ambulance to King's College Hospital in London.