A tourist visiting the north Norfolk coast for a special birthday bash has praised its 'strong community spirit' following a holiday drama.

%image(14779240, type="article-full", alt="Debbie Glibbery, of Essex, praises north Norfolk's "community spirit" after falling and breaking her wrist. Pictured here with husband Paul. Picture: DEBBIE GLIBBERY.")

Debbie Glibbery, of Hornchurch, Essex, spent the weekend at Potters Resort, near Great Yarmouth, celebrating her 52nd birthday with husband Paul, 53.

And for the final day of their trip the couple visited the seaside town of Sheringham.

'It was so twee and pretty and we loved it,' she said. 'We walked down to the beach and we were then going to make our way home. Unfortunately it had been raining and I slipped off a curb.

'It was an Oscar-winning performance of a fall.'

Mrs Glibbery, who was then unable to move, was helped by a quick-thinking Samaritan named Becky.

The young shop assistant, who works on Pantaloon, on High Street, took Mrs Glibbery into the shop and made her safe before calling 999.

'Becky came running out and helped me - she was amazing. She called the ambulance and reassured my husband too. I had no idea what was going on.'

She was taken to Cromer Hospital by a crew from the East of England Ambulance Service. Due to the nature of the fracture to her wrist, she had to be transferred to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (N&N) for surgery.

'It was the simple things which made a difference, like when we got to the N&N, the staff had been expecting us. I had to be kept in overnight and have surgery the next day.'

As well as praising the 'strong community spirit' of Sheringham, she said everyone she had come across had been 'wonderful'.

'It was a birthday holiday to remember, but when the NHS works, it works so well.'

A secretary for an American bank in London, Mrs Glibbery is currently waiting to have her stitches out.

Director of Nursing at the N&N, Emma McKay, said: 'We are delighted to hear that this patient has praised the treatment she received.

'It is always nice to receive messages like this to share with our staff.'

A Pantaloon spokesman said they hoped Mrs Glibbery was making a good recovery.