River plunge motorist rescued by passers-by

AN ELDERLY man was saved by two passers-by after his car plunged into a river yesterday. He was taken to hospital with suspected hypothermia after his car left the road and went into the Avon in Bath around noon.

Two ambulances, two rapid-response vehicles and an ambulance officer were sent to the scene in Chatham Row, Walcot.

Andy Richardson, of the Great Western Ambulance Service, said: "We believe the man was rescued from the car by two passers-by who we found also to be suffering from hypothermia.

"They had also both suffered minor cuts which we treated at the scene.

"The icy cold water causes the body temperature to drop very quickly so it doesn't take long to become hypothermic."

The driver of the car, a man thought to be in his seventies, was taken to the Royal United Hospital for further checks.