Artificial leg saves guest as mudslide crashes on to hotel

A man who became trapped under a table when a 6,000-tonne mudslide hit the hotel in which he was staying managed to escape only by removing his artificial leg.

Philip Nelson, from Bradford, was thrown to the floor. He slipped out of his false leg to free himself from the tables and chairs that had been pushed over.

Nelson was among 160 guests and staff who had to be evacuated from the Shanklin Beach hotel on the Isle of Wight.

He lost his leg eight years ago and said he was "relieved" he had been able to use it to escape.

The guests, from the North-east and Yorkshire, were taking part in a quiz night when the cliff slide happened late last Wednesday.

Heavy rain sent thousands of tonnes of earth, vegetation and debris cascading on to the Shanklin Beach and the neighbouring Redcliffe hotel, on the Shanklin Esplanade.

Four people were injured and taken to hospital but were later released after being treated for cuts and bruises.

The evacuees were transferred to four hotels in the area.

Nelson said: "It was just one of those things, although next time we come we won't choose a hotel that is by the cliffs."

Tourism bosses sought contingency plans for four coaches of visitors expected at the Shanklin Beach in the days after the cliff slide.

The hotel declined to comment.

By Gavin Foster