Two men, including a soldier, hailed as life savers
Two men, including a soldier at home on leave in Shropshire, are being hailed life savers after they helped rescue a woman from the River Severn in Shropshire in the dark.
The incident was close to Washbrook Road, Bridgnorth, on Tuesday night.
Both men went into the river and helped the woman until the emergency services arrived.
An ambulance service spokeswoman said it was not known how the woman, aged in her 50s, came to be in the river.
A spokesman said: "The emergency services were alerted to a woman in her 50s being in the river.
'Difficult and dangerous'
"A 56-year-old man initially went into the water to try and help.
"He was joined shortly afterwards by a 22-year-old soldier who was walking home at the time. It is not known how long the pair were in the water for.
"The soldier went into the water up to his shoulders and held the woman afloat until firefighters were able to bring them both to the shore."
He added in the meantime the other rescuer had been helped out of the water by his wife.
He said the woman was suffering from the effects of hypothermia and was semi-conscious.
She was assessed at the scene before being taken to Princess Royal Hospital for further assessment and treatment.
The spokesman said the middle aged man refused treatment and was left at home.
The soldier, who is based at Catterick Barracks in Yorkshire and serves with the Mercian Regiment, was checked over at the scene but did not require hospital treatment.
"West Midlands Ambulance Service will be writing to the soldier's commanding officer in recognition of his efforts to help a member of the public in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions," he said.
"The service will also write to the other gentleman that went to help in recognition of his efforts too."