THE popular port worker crushed by a 40-tonne boat in Gravesend remains critically ill in hospital.

Father-of-two Michael Russell is fighting for his life after he became trapped between the barge and the pier at Denton Wharf, Mark Lane.

As of 2.30pm today (Jan 28) the 36-year-old was “critical but stable” in Royal London Hospital.

Ambulance crews were called at 4.15pm on Friday, January 18, to Marine House to find the Port of London Authority (PLA) port manager stuck after getting into difficulty while mooring the large boat.

He suffered a fractured pelvis and chest and abdominal injuries, and was taken by the air ambulance’s rapid response car to the Royal London Hospital.

On Thursday (January 24) Michael's wife Natalie, 39, told News Shopper: "He was doing what he does every day.

"It was just an accident. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Any other day it would have been a different story."

She added: “He’s had several operations and he needs several more but he’s not out of the woods just yet.

“We are taking each day as it comes.”

The couple have two children together, a six-week-old daughter Isla and son Evan, 4.

Michael has worked at Denton Wharf for nearly 20 years and has a keen interest in diving.

His wife said: “I would like to say a big thank you to the paramedics and everyone at the Royal London Hospital.

“The PLA have been great as well: you can’t fault them.”

The circumstances of the accident are being investigated by the PLA and the Health and Safety Executive who have informed the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

Kent Police are not treating the accident as suspicious.