FIREFIGHTERS have rescued a driver after his lorry rolled off a quay and he was trapped in his cab 30 feet above the water.

The man was unhurt during the incident at Irvine’s Quay in Hartlepool tonight (October 1).

The lorry had just been offloaded when it rolled forward and the cab became trapped over a 30 foot drop to the water below.

Two fire crews from Hartlepool, two from Stockton and the hydraulic platform from Middlesbrough were called to the quay shortly after 6pm.

Station manager Steve Patton said the cab was in a precarious position and the operation had to be completed swiftly but carefully.

He said: “The cab part of the lorry was dangling over a 30 foot drop to the water.

“With darkness coming in we knew we had to be quick but also had to do it safely.”

The crews used the hydraulic platform to rescue the driver, who was conscious throughout, and Mr Patton said he was pleased with the rescue which took about an hour to complete.

He said: “We rescued the driver, and although he was a bit shaken he was unhurt.”

It is understood the company for whom the lorry was working will now wait until morning to recover the vehicle.

The RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was also on the scene as were the police and ambulance service.