STEPHEN PULLINGER A 32-year-old woman plunged 10ft into Lowestoft harbour early today, moments after being seen staggering along the quay.

STEPHEN PULLINGER

A 32-year-old woman plunged 10ft into Lowestoft harbour early today, moments after being seen staggering along the quay.

Yarmouth coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public who witnessed the drama at about 2am.

Police in a passing patrol car had also seen the incident and went to the rescue, joined by Lowestoft coastguards and the town's lifeboat.

The officers reached out to the woman from a quayside boarding ladder and kept hold of her until the lifeboat arrived five minutes later, its crew lifting her from the water in a semi-conscious state.

She was taken to the lifeboat shed and transferred to an ambulance that took her to James Paget Hospital, Gorleston.

Lifeboat operations manager Mike Chapman said: “The woman was very, very lucky because she went right under. The lifeboat rescue was made difficult by the low spring tide.”

Coastguard watch manager Mario Siano said: “How the casualty fell in is unclear, but luckily she did not receive any serious injuries.

“I am pleased to say that the hospital has reported that the casualty is making a good recovery after suffering from shock and disorientation.”