FIREFIGHTERS praised a passer-by who pulled a man from the River Thames after he fell from Donnington road bridge yesterday. 

A cyclist on his way to work dived into the water and rescued the unconscious man, in his twenties, before performing life-saving treatment.

Paul Molloy, of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said his actions gave the man the best possible chance to live.

The cyclist, a trained doctor who is yet to be identified, swam out in to the Thames then dragged the man, who was not breathing, out on to the river bank.

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Once out of the water, the doctor and other emergency service workers at the scene revived the patient following 30 minutes of CPR.

Oxford Mail:

Mr Molloy said it was a case of the right person being in the right place at exactly the right time.

He added: "The biggest thing for me is the actions of this chap who jumped in the river for about five or 10 minutes and gave him a chance.

"In my 29 years as a firefighter, it's very rare when you pull someone out they actually survive.

"Without his actions, the guy would have less of a chance then he has got now."

The patient, who was now breathing but still unconscious, was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington where he was receiving treatment last night.

The emergency services closed Donnington Bridge Road for a couple of hours when they arrived shortly after 10.15am.

Bus services were diverted away from the area and traffic was congested towards the Abingdon and Iffley Roads.

Mr Molloy said the rescuer was "quite modest" about his actions.

He added: "It's not the sort of thing you expect on your way to work, but this guy did all the right things."

Group manager of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Jason Crapper said the response of the emergency services was a "fantastic example of the three services working together".

David Burt, a construction worker for Greenford Ltd, was working with a crew nearby carrying out bank repairs for Oxford City Council.

He said: "As soon as we heard the sirens there was already somebody there doing CPR.

"Paramedics, the police and the fire service were taking it in turns. It’s a lot of work doing CPR on your own, especially on a day like this."

Oxford Mail: