EMERGENCY services were called to rescue a man in Ellesmere Port who had suffered a cardiac arrest on board a ship.

Both firefighters and paramedics were called to Oil Sites Road on Saturday evening.

An aerial ladder platform was used to rescue the man who was around 20m high on the ship.

Four appliances attended the scene – one engine from Ellesmere Port, one from Lymm and both a fire engine and aerial ladder platform from Chester.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Firefighters were called to assist with rescuing a man from height on board a ship.

"On arrival the crews used the aerial platform to help rescue the man who was around 20 metres high on a ship.

"He was then passed into the care of paramedics. The crews were on scene for around 50 minutes."

Chester Fire Station posted on its Facebook page yesterday: "Chester's ALP and appliance attended a cardiac arrest on the top deck of a ship, in conjunction with Ellesmere Port's crew and North West Ambulance Service's Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).

"Great work by all for a difficult rescue."

A North West Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We received a call 16:59 on Saturday, reporting that someone had suffered a medical episode on board a ship at Ellesmere Port.

"We attended with two ambulances, an advanced paramedic and HART.

"One patient was taken to hospital after being taken off the ship using a highline."