A MAN is fighting for his life after being found in the canal in Rowley Regis.

The man was rescued from the water in the Dudley Canal near Powke Lane Bridge by firefighters today at around 1pm.

Paramedics gave him "advanced life support" at the scene and he was taken to hospital.

The incident caused Powke Lane to close between Cox's Lane and Powke Lane Island with motorists advised to find alternative routes.

It has since reopened.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called to reports of a patient in the water near to Powke Lane Bridge on Dudley Canal at 1.05pm.

"Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team and a MERIT trauma doctor attended the scene.

"On arrival we discovered one male patient, who was rescued from the water by colleagues from the fire service.

"He was found to be in a serious condition and received advanced life support from ambulance staff, which continued en-route to Russell’s Hall Hospital."