FIREFIGHTERS were called to Boscombe seafront yesterday to rescue a woman trapped in an ambulance door. 

An eyewitness, who was walking along the promenade when the drama unfolded, told the Daily Echo how the casualty's leg had become stuck in a door of the emergency vehicle.

The woman had developed breathing difficulties after going into the sea with a male companion.

One eyewitness told the Daily Echo the woman had been screaming out in pain.

He added: “The scene was truly awful. Police officers and ambulance men were trying desperately to push the door open.

"But even though there were four of them it refused to open, leaving the poor lady trapped. My wife was horrified; it was a good ten minutes before the woman was freed.

“She was almost totally undressed and being restrained by the police as she struggled and screamed.

"They shouted to her to calm down and had to wrestle her to the floor and hold her down. It was mayhem enacted in front of the general public as they strolled along the prom.

“She was eventually strapped to a stretcher and carried into another ambulance. She was screaming incessantly.”

The woman was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Her condition is unknown. 

The alarm was raised at 12.15 pm and by the time crews from Springbourne and Westbourne arrived the woman's leg had been released.

Dorset Police, who also attended, did not want to comment. The Echo has contacted the ambulance service, but has not had any response as yet. We'll update the story if we do.