Drama as Holly rushed to hospital

Holly Walsh has been dislocated her shoulder and broken her arm after leaping off Worthing Pier in the resort’s annual Birdman competition.

Sunday’s competition was halted for around 20 minutes while the 30-year-old comic was rescued by lifeboat after her jump from the pier, attached to a cardboard helicopter, went wrong.

After being rescued from the water, she was strapped to a spinal board and taken to hospital.

She was well enough to Tweet last night: ‘Thank you so much for all your kind tweets! Am amazed it made the news! I couldn't have been looked after better by the organisers and medics.’

Just before she took part, Walsh, who is also a CBBC presenter, tweeted: ‘About to attempt to fly off Worthing Pier in a cardboard helicopter. This could be the most exhilarating / humiliating 15 secs of my life.’

Joel Hicks, who jumped with her dressed as Rambo, told the Brighton Argus: ‘The jump seemed to go fine. I don’t know anything more.’

A Shoreham lifeboat spokesman told the Press Association: ‘It appears she entered the water wrong. It is thought she has a serious fracture above her elbow and a dislocated shoulder. The inshore lifeboat brought her to the shore at Worthing and she was transferred to hospital by ambulance.’

Around 10,000 spectators witnessed the accident on the second day of the two-day event.

Published: 15 Aug 2010