An angler who nearly died when a whole Dover Sole jumped down his throat has described how he was trying to kiss it when it flew out of his hand “like a bar of soap”.

Sam Quilliam, 28, had just caught the 14cm fish when it took exception to his amorous advances and leapt down his windpipe, causing a complete blockage.

He collapsed and went into cardiac arrest as his terrified friends dialled 999 before performing CPR until paramedics arrived.

Mr Quilliam, from the New Forest, returned to the scene of the bizarre incident at Buscombe Pier, in Bournemouth, Dorset, on Friday and described how he had decided to give the fish a quick kiss before throwing it back into the water as it was too small to keep.