A POLICE officer suffered a broken leg while trying to arrest a naked man on the water’s edge at Shoeburyness beach.

Calls were made to police yesterday lunchtime, January 4, after concerns were raised for a woman in Richmond Avenue, following a domestic argument during which a window and door were damaged.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said when officers arrived they were also made aware of further incidents, which included damage to the window of another property in the street, as well as damage to a black Citroen vehicle and the assault of two women, also in Richmond Avenue.

A 33-year-old man from Southend, who was naked at the time, had gone into the sea and was recovered from the water by police, assisted by Southend Coastguard.

The police spokeswoman added: “During the arrest of the man off Eastern Esplanade a male police officer, based at Boreham, sustained a broken leg and is currently being treated at Southend Hospital.

“The man was arrested on suspicion of GBH and taken to hospital. He is currently on bail pending further inquiries until January 18.”

She said the two women who were assaulted were not known to the man, but happened to be in the same road at the time of the incident.

Joy Hale, East of England Ambulance Service spokeswoman, said: “We were called to scene at about 1.35pm, a rapid response vehicle arrived in about two minutes.

“One man was in the water and another person on scene suffered a suspected fractured ankle.

“Both were taken to hospital by two ambulances which had also been dispatched and arrived within about 20 minutes.”

It was confirmed when the officer got to hospital that he had in fact broken his leg.