River Avon rescue of couple found clinging to banks
Two people have been rescued from the River Avon in Chippenham and taken to hospital with hypothermia.
A man and a woman were found clinging to the bank in the Monkton Park area at about 21:00 GMT on Monday.
A South Western Ambulance Service spokesperson said it appeared the woman had slipped and fallen into the water.
One of the pair was taken to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and the other to the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
A spokesperson for the Fire Service said the rescue was delayed as the location given by the man who rang 999 was wrong.
A full search of the river using a thermal imaging camera helped locate the pair.
They had not been able to climb out as the banks are steep and muddy.
Station Manager Darren Nixon said: "Police officers and a couple of firefighters held onto the pair until the specialist water rescue crew could enter the water and bring them to safety.
"We think the two people were in the water for 20-25 minutes, and they were extremely lucky that they were found when they were."