Bridge faller's whistle plea

Western Isles Hospital, where Mr Steven was treated

An elderly angler has escaped with minor injuries after dangling upside down from a makeshift bridge for more than an hour.

Ian Steven, 68, from Tayport in Fife, had been fishing at Ammhunsuidhe in Harris when fell between two poles which had been laid across a stream.

One of his legs got caught leaving him dangling upside down with his head submerged in the water.

The pensioner only survived by pulling his head out of the stream every time he needed to breathe.

His ordeal ended when a passer-by heard him blowing on a whistle and went for help.

Mr Steven admitted that he was "very lucky" to escape with just minor injuries.

"My right leg hurts a bit but that's it," he said. "I slipped on the walkway and fell backwards out into the water.

Whistle-blower

"My leg got stuck in between the poles on the bridge and my head was in the stream.

"Luckily it was very shallow at that time so I could put my hand in and push myself up from the floor when I needed to breathe."

He kept blowing his whistle and shouting for help until three local men arrived, along with a police officer, to free his foot and pull him from the water.

Mr Steven was then taken by coastguard helicopter to the Western Isles Hospital where he was treated for shock and concussion.

Police confirmed Mr Steven fell at about 1600 BST on Monday when trying to navigate a makeshift bridge which was only 18in wide and 4ft high.