This was the moment lifeboat crews battled against rising tides to save a partygoer who fell 25 feet from a wall on to the riverbed of the Thames.
During the painstaking rescue near the Woolwich Ferry terminal, the water level rose from the man's ankles to his knees and paramedics found themselves cut off by the tide.
Ambulance workers and the RNLI lifeboat crew had to be careful when moving the victim after he suffered spinal injuries in the fall.
His friend also sustained minor injuries after trying to rescue him before lifeboat crews arrived and the drama unfolded, according to reports.
RNLI lifeboat helmsman Mick Neil said: "It appeared the two men were on a night out when one of them went over the handrail and fell about 25ft onto the exposed river foreshore below, injuring his spine.
"His friend then slid down the vertical river wall in an attempt to help him, suffering cuts, bruises and an injury to his ankle."
Emergency services including the RNLI's Tower crew were on the scene within minutes of the 999 call at 6.45pm.
"We arrived to find the Met Police already on scene followed by London Ambulance Service," added Mr Neil.
"From the start the rescue was time critical as the rising tide was rapidly covering the area of ground we were all on. Initially the water was at his ankles but it quickly got up to his knees."
By the time the man was put onto a spinal board, the tide had cut off the emergency services and they themselves needed rescuing by the lifeboat.
"Once he was secure we got him, his friend, the police and paramedics onto the lifeboat and took everyone to Woolwich Arsenal Pier where we were met by London Ambulance Service crew," said Mr Neil.
