A fisherman almost died after a Dover sole he had caught jumped down his throat. His life was saved by paramedics after the fish wriggled free of his hand and choked him.

The unnamed 28-year-old's life was in jeopardy after he stopped breathing for three minutes after the six-inch long fish stuck in his throat.

It caused a complete obstruction of the man's airways and his face turned blue after the incident on Boscombe Pier in Bournemouth, Dorset.

His friends, scared for his life, rang 999 and tried to give him CPR while paramedics sped to the scene.

They arrived in just two minutes but by that time the patient had gone into cardiac arrest and had stopped breathing.

Paramedics used forceps to grab hold the fish's tail they could see down the man's throat.

They made five attempts to pull the fish free but the thwarted by its barb and gills which were stuck in the angler's throat.

They finally yanked it free on the sixth go but by that time the casualty had stopped breathing for three minutes.

The angler was revived in the ambulance and after being treated and checked over in hospital was allowed home having made a full recovery.