'I heard a thud': Horror as woman plunges through hole in Blackpool pier onto beach below

A woman has been rushed to hospital after falling through Central Pier in Blackpool. Emergency services, including police, paramedics and fire crews raced to the incident at around 4.30pm.

Horrified witnesses watched on, many of whom were on the beach with their children at the time, as crews rushed to the woman's aid. She appeared to have fallen through a section of the pier before landing on the beach below.

The pier was evacuated and closed off after the incident as paramedics surrounded the woman.

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Specialist beach patrol units also attended the incident, in which a gaping hole was left in the wooden pier. The extent of her injuries has not been confirmed.

A witness who was at the beach with his children said: "I was walking the beach with my kids and heard a thud A huge thud next to me nearly on top of my head.

"A lady ploughed to the floor, smashing through the Central Pier. I was absolutely terrified... I thought she was dead."

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: "We have received a report of a woman having fallen through a section of the pier in Blackpool at around 4.30pm today.

"The woman has been taken to hospital with injuries. The pier is currently closed."