A WINGWALKER from Stroud had a narrow escape after the plane she was strapped to at Bournemouth Air Festival crashed into the sea.

Kirsten Pobjoy, 23, from Stroud, along with Cirencester pilot Dave Barrell, miraculously survived Saturday’s crash, off the Dorset coast, with minor injuries.

Both Kirsten and Dave work for Aerosuperbatics, the world's only wing-walking formation team, which is based in Cirencester.

The team's two-seat biplane had been taking part in the festival when it plummeted in to the water outside The Haven Hotel in Poole Harbour, near Sandbanks, on Saturday afternoon.

Crowds had gathered around the harbour and spectators had lined the shore to watch the event.

Libby Chambers, who helped to pulled to pull the pair to safety praised pilot Dave's skill, as he managed to miss the rocks, the marker and the boats.

She said: "The pilot was incredible, he deserves a medal - I have no idea how he missed the rocks, the marker and the boats - he was just out of this world," he said.

Kirsten joined the School of Larks circus school in Stroud at age 14 and it was there that she learned her acrobatic skills, before joining Aerosuperbatics where she is said to be only one of a two full-time professional formation wingwalkers in the world.

Bournemouth Air Festival organisers issued a statement on September 5, describing their 'huge relief' that both Kirsten and Dave had been rescued safely.

"We would like to thank the RNLI, Coastguard, South West Ambulance, Dorset Police, Poole Harbour Commissioners and all those who took part in the rescue of the two people aboard the aircraft," a festival spokesperson said.

"It is a huge relief for all those involved in the Air Festival that the incident has resulted in the display crew being removed from the water safe and well."