A HISTORICAL re-enactor has hailed the 'professional heroes' who rescued him from the Cathedral rooftop.

Chris Modd, aged 53, a member of Worcester Re-enactors, was in the city to film an English Civil War scene on top of Worcester Cathedral tower.

Mr Modd, who has type two diabetes, collapsed on the tower rooftop after climbing up a steep set of stairs.

As the Worcester News previously reported, a Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter rescued the father-of-one, at about 9.30am on Saturday, July 1.

He said: "It's kind of etched into my brain, I don't think I'll ever forget being winched.

"It was like a huge hand just sort of grabbed me and lifted me off the roof.

"I was worrying that they [the helicopter crew] were going to blow something off the spire or hit something but the skill was awesome, he held it rock steady.

"It won't put me off re-enacting. The Civil War is my passion and I was going to get to the top of the tower come hell or high water.

"It was the chance to stand on the spot where Charles II was, I thought I had to go for it. At least I sprawled where the king stood."

Mr Modd, from Wolverhampton, has been visiting Worcester for almost 15 years to take part in re-enacting events.

He said a friend recruited him for the filming, which involved a clip of King Charles II standing on top of the tower.

"I got up to the roof and felt awful. I didn't realise it but I pushed myself too far," Mr Modd said.

"It's what an unfit 53-year-old gets for climbing up a cathedral spire."

Mr Modd said he sat down when he got to the top of the Cathedral and then sprawled across the floor.

He added that a cathedral first aider called paramedics, who found he was suffering from hyperglycemia - as his blood sugar levels had spiked.

The fire service was not able to carry out a rope rescue as Mr Modd could not walk, which meant it was too dangerous to take him down the stairs.

They then called a Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter, based in St Athan, near Cardiff, to winch Mr Modd to safety.

Mr Modd said he remembers ambulance and fire service personnel leaning over him to protect him from the helicopter downwash while it hovered overhead.

He was dropped off in the playing fields opposite the Cathedral and taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital by land ambulance.

Doctors kept him under observation for a few hours and he was then released.

He is now undergoing tests to ensure he gets the correct treatment for his diabetes.