FIRE crews were called to a Hampshire marina last night after a sailor fell into the water and started shouting for help.

He was walking along one of the pontoons at Gosport Marina in Mumby Road and lost his footing – but managed to scramble out of the water before firefighters arrived.

The man, thought to be in his late fifties or early sixties, is thought to have been in the water for up to eight minutes.

Firefighters were called to the marina just after midnight.

A Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We arrived to be greeted by a man who was fully clothed and soaking wet from head to toe.

“He’d just got back from France and was very tired, which caused him to lose his footing as he walked along the pontoon.

“Someone living in one of the nearby flats heard him shouting for help and raised the alarm.

“He managed to get back to the pontoon and pull himself out. An ambulance was called but all he wanted was a warm shower at the marina.”