IF it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here.

Those are the words of an injured man who was rescued from mud at Mudeford between Christmas and New Year after he fell walking home from a party.

Craig Walsh was on crutches and returning to his home at Highcliffe, deciding to take a detour along the water's edge, when he fell not once but twice, and now wants to find the resident who helped save him.

The 36-year-old walked along the harbour in the early hours of a week last Monday, December 28, as previously reported, when he lost his balance and found himself in the water.

He's been undergoing extensive work on his knee over the last few weeks and was using crutches when he fell.

"I'm on crutches due to serious pain, I'm due to have an operation," he said. "My crutch gave way so I spun round to try and turn and I'd fallen in the water. I got dragged but managed to stay in shore.

"I eventually managed to pull myself out of the water. I walked on a bit of land and then fell in the swamp area.

"I must have taken five or six steps after I got out and my leg gave way again."

Mr Walsh said he was in a tremendous amount of pain and began shouting to try and get someone's attention.

"I just couldn't move," he added. "The only thing I could do was scream and shout and by some miracle one of the people who lives near where I was heard me and called the emergency services.

"I'd love to find him because if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here."

Emergency services were called at around 2.40am, seeing two fire engines from Christchurch and the technical rescue unit from Poole transported by a dinghy to the area.

Mudeford RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew also took part in the operation where Mr Walsh was found to be disorientated.

They transferred him onto the fire brigade inflatable as the lifeboat was running out of water, due to the outgoing tide.

He was then transferred to hospital where he is undergoing further treatment.

"I'd really like to find the man who called," Mr Walsh said. "All I can remember is being put into the ambulance. The firemen were absolutely outstanding as were the lifeboat crew. I can't sing their praises enough."

He was joined by his wife Jenny at the scene.

"I was actually out searching for him and was there when they rescued him," she said. "It was all a bit traumatic at the time but I'm glad he's ok."