Disabled angler has lucky escape after falling into river in Offaly

A disabled angler had a lucky escape after falling into the river Brosna on Wednesday evening.

The accident happened in Ballycumber at 5pm when he was fishing from his wheelchair on a public walkway on the river bank close to the village.

Both the angler and his wheelchair ended up in the river after the chair rolled down the steep river bank.

Fire crews from Clara, including water rescue specialists, were quickly on the scene and were able to remove him from the river.

The fire crew provided first aid until the arrival of the National Ambulance Service.

The man was stabilised by paramedics before being transferred to hospital in Tullamore.

It's understood the man's injuries were not life threatening.