Man saved from River Cherwell after bid to rescue dog
A man was pulled to safety when he became stuck in a river in Oxfordshire as he tried to rescue his dog.
Passers-by dialled 999 after the man jumped into the River Cherwell in Oxford after their pet on Friday.
Two passing Environment Agency workers pulled the man to safety while his dog managed to reach land on its own.
The pair were assessed at the scene but neither required further treatment. The fire service urged owners to keep their pets on a lead near rivers.
Crew manager Andrew Lloyd said: "We are very glad that both owner and dog are safe and well, but this incident could have ended in tragedy.
"I would like to thank both the passers-by and Environment Agency workers for their outstanding efforts prior to our arrival.
"The dog actually got out of the water by itself, which is almost always the case with incidents like these.
"I would urge all dog owners to keep their pets on a lead near water.
"Should your pet get into difficulty whilst in the water, please don't put your safety and that of others at risk. Stay calm and dial 999 for help."