A MAN trapped on his boat after he collapsed had to be rescued by firefighters.

They were called to the Haslar Marina, in Gosport, last night to help ambulance staff.

The man, in his 50s, was said to be trapped in the bow of a vessel moored at a pontoon.

He was not extricated, but it is believed firefighters used manpower to get him out.

A South Central Ambulance Service spokesman said they were called to a medical emergency just after 10pm involving an unconscious man and sent a rapid response vehicle and two ambulances but needed help to get the man out of the boat.

Due to the critical nature of the incident, fire crews were judged closer than the ambulance service's hazardous area response team.

The man was taken to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth in a potentially life threatening condition.