Couple rescued after falling into freezing River Severn in Shropshire
A couple were rescued from the River Severn in Shropshire after falling into freezing waters.
Fire crews from Tweedale, Wellington and Shrewsbury were called to Jackfield, near Ironbridge, just before midnight.
The man and woman, who were both in the their 30s, were clinging on to the bank when firefighters arrived.
The couple had fallen eight to 10 feet into the water, near blast furnaces along the river.
An appliance and water rescue tender from Tweedale, a boat from Shrewsbury and a rescue tender Wellington arrived on the scene at 11.50pm and took 20 minutes to pull the couple to safety using line safety equipment.
Police arrived after receiving reports of screams for help from the river last night.
The ambulance also attended and took the woman to hospital as a precaution.
Richard Groom, crew manager at Tweedale Fire Station, said: "The lady appears to have slipped in and the man has then gone in after her.
"The lady was still being checked out when we left and was later taken to hospital.
"It appears to have been a bit of a freak accident but luckily it was along an open stretch of the road so it was fairly easy to get to.
"But it was a drop of about eight to 10 feet and they were holding on to the side of the bank in freezing waters when we arrived."
