SCUBA-diving lorry driver Mark Webber's attempt to smash the underwater endurance record ran aground when his dry suit sprang a leak.

But Mark has vowed: "I'll be back - next February."

Mark's 10-day attempt was dramatically cut short when his wet suit started to take in water. He was pulled out unconscious and woke up in hospital.

"It was all a bit fuzzy. I had started feeling cold and it got worse," said Mark, who was trying to smash the record at the Manchester Diving Group HQ in Chorlton-cum-Hardy.

Mark, 27, of North Road, Blackburn, added; "It was about 11am and I was not responding when people were talking to me. I was very lucky. "It was just one of those things, The wet suit is used by police forces all over the country. I have spoken to the people who make them and I will be using one of their suits again in February," said Mark, who is now fully recovered and back at work.

The fire brigade even turned up with a boat when they were called out after Mark got into difficulty.

He was in danger of developing hypothermia, but he quickly recovered in hospital after fire officers helped warm him up at the scene.

The keen sub-aqua amateur was just two days into the underwater marathon.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "The 999 caller only told us that there was a man underwater in distress, so we had mobilised the inshore rescue boat complete with outboard motor, as well as two fire units.

"We were extremely surprised to find the scene that we did. Men submerged in tanks and in difficulty is not an every day job."

As well as attempting to break the world record, Mark was also hoping to raise £40,000 to help his club buy the lease on the HQ building.

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