A woman who suffered multiple injuries after falling 26 feet off a wall onto a mud bank at Gravesend is in a stable condition in hospital

A major rescue operation on Saturday involving the RNLI, firefighters and paramedics was launched to rescue the woman who was alone and in her 40s.

As a crew from Thames-side fire station helped to stabilise and put her on a long board, the life boat based at Gravesend managed to get close enough to pick her up at Clifton Marine Parade.

The woman was transferred to a nearby jetty, where she received further treatment.

She was taken to King's College Hospital in London, where her condition is now stable.

Jason Carroll, of Gravesend RNLI Lifeboat Station said: "The fire service was en route and they asked for our assistance, so we informed London Coastguard we were launching our lifeboat.

"They were on scene when we arrived – we saw a fire-fighter at the base of an access ladder and the woman lying face down next to the ladder in the mud.

"At that point we were concerned she might have lost her life.’

Once the firefighter established the woman was alive and had regained consciousness, the lifeboat crew put their boat aground in the soft mud of the foreshore and RNLI helmsman Steve King went ashore with rescue equipment.

"It took some tricky manoeuvring to get the lifeboat near her because of the wash from a passing vessel," said Jason, "but once Steve got to her he and the firefighter used the RNLI’s casualty care equipment to help her, and fit a neck collar.

"Steve then did a full head-to-toe survey, identifying a swelling in the abdomen and a suspected broken leg.

"The casualty also informed the crew at that point that she was diabetic."

After negotiation with the fire and ambulance service, it was decided to take the injured woman to safety by lifeboat.

She was rolled onto her back into a stretcher and taken to the nearby Royal Terrace Pier where she received further medical treatment.

Ian Dunkley, Gravesend RNLI Lifeboat Station manager, said: "This was a very delicate rescue operation in some extremely challenging circumstances.

"The woman was lucky not to be more seriously injured by her fall and it’s really impressive how well my lifeboat crew worked alongside fire and rescue and ambulance service personnel to ensure she was taken to safety as quickly as possible for further treatment.

"We have since learned she is stable in hospital and has not suffered life threatening injuries. This is great news and we wish her well in her recovery."

Thames-side watch manager Danny Turner said: "It was a particularly delicate operation because the woman was in a lot of pain and the tide was coming in.

"It was a good example of emergency crews working together, especially as time was of the essence."

The incident happened at about 6.35pm.

In Thursday's Messenger, meet the little five-year-old boy who alerted the emergency services.