FIREFIGHTERS had to use a specialst search and rescue crew to get a 30-stone man who needed to go to hospital out of his flat.

An urban search and rescue crew from Lexden near Colchester plus three fire engines from Grays and one from Basildon spent five hours releasing the ill 53-year-old man from the flat at Russet House, Falcon Avenue, Grays, before he was taken to Basildon Hospital.

Due to his size and weight a fire crew also had to help remove him from the ambulance and get him into the hospital.

More in Monday's Echo.