AN angler who suffers with breathing difficulties has vowed to keep on casting his rod after he was involved in a dramatic rescue at a Norfolk fishery.

AN angler who suffers with breathing difficulties has vowed to keep on casting his rod after he was involved in a dramatic rescue at a Norfolk fishery.

Dave Docwra had to be hauled out of the water at Burgh Castle Fisheries when he got into serious difficulties after he slipped in while trying to catch a carp.

The 64-year-old from Crown Road, Yarmouth struggled to get back to the bank after he got his legs trapped in his fishing equipment and quickly became exhausted in the ice cold shoulder high water.

But luckily for Mr Docwra, a fellow quick thinking angler, Karl Hodgins plucked him to safety.

And as well as hauling Mr Docwra to out of the water, Mr Hodgins then went on to reel in the 1lb carp that had caused the fishery drama.

Last Thursday the pair met up in Yarmouth and as they relive the dramatic rescue which happened on Sunday, March 21 Mr Docwra said it would not put him off going fishing at the weekend.

Mr Docwra said: “I don't remember much after I slipped in. But I soon felt exhausted and could not get out. My clothes felt very heavy with the water.

“Luckily a big chap like Karl came along and pulled me out- it might have been different if a smaller person had turned up!”

Mr Docwra, who also recently suffered a cancer scare, said that he hoped that any angler, especially young and old ones, would make sure that they do not fish alone to avoid a similar accident that happened to him.

The rescue happened at 11.25am during a fishing competition organised by a local angling club.

Mr Hodgins, 45 and a youth justice worker based in Yarmouth, said: “I could see Dave was disorientated and in difficulty and looked shocked.

“I just reached over and hauled him out. It did bring home the dangers of fishing.”

As a thank you to his rescuer and for catching his 1lb carp, Mr Docwra also promised to buy Mr Hodgins a drink.