The weekend’s annual Worthing International Birdman Rally claimed a high profile casualty as children’s television presenter, Holly Walsh had to be hospitalised with a dislocated shoulder and possible arm fracture.

The two-day event involves participants leaping from the town’s pier into the sea in fancy dress or elaborate costumes, in an attempt to “fly” the furthest distance possible from the pier.

Around 10,000 spectators lined the beach to watch the event, which included an attempt by Eddie the Eagle to break the record on Saturday.

On the ‘fun flyers’ Sunday, TV presenter Holly, 30, jumped with a mock helicopter along with another competitor, but was injured when she landed awkwardly in the sea.

One of the safety boats associated with the event pulled her out of the water and laid her on the sponson of their boat.

A lifeboat spokesman commented: ‘She was clearly in a lot of pain, so we transferred her to Shoreham RNLI inshore lifeboat to get her back to shore to a waiting ambulance on the seafront road.’