A MAN who was rescued from Welney Washes after spending six hours in freezing conditions is recovering in hospital. The man – who is in his 40s and from Heacham, Norfolk – was waste-deep in the water and clinging to a tree branch when an RAF helicopter f

A MAN who was rescued from Welney Washes after spending six hours in freezing conditions is recovering in hospital.

The man - who is in his 40s and from Heacham, Norfolk - was waste-deep in the water and clinging to a tree branch when an RAF helicopter found him.

It is believed the man became stuck in the water at Welney after attempting to drive across the A1101 road.

Rescuers think he may have been in the freezing cold water for between six and eight hours before anglers fishing on the nearby Delph heard his cries for help and raised the alarm on Sunday morning.

The man was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, at about 10am on Sunday by an RAF Sea King helicopter, which winched down a crew member to rescue the stricken man.

Fire crews from Norfolk and Cambridgeshire had been called to the scene but were unable to reach the man.

Flight Lieutenant Andy Ball said: "It was a pretty straight- forward rescue and took only a few minutes as we spotted him in the water as soon as we arrived.

"It is pretty unusual for us to be called to deal with an inland water job."

Water on the Ouse Washes flood plain has risen to cover the A1101, leaving it impassable for most vehicles.