FIREFIGHTERS have praised a woman who tried to rescue a man who died after falling into the River Cherwell.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue station manager Paul Molloy said the woman, who jumped into the water, was 'very helpful in pinpointing the exact location' where the man had fallen in.

Officers searched the waters near Magdalen Bridge, High Street, Oxford, for about two hours yesterday before recovering the man from the water in what was described as a 'challenging exercise'.

Sadly, this morning police announced the man, in his 30s, had died a 'short while' after being taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington with life threatening injuries.

Rewley Road Station Manager Mr Molloy said: "I arrived at the scene shortly after our fire crews.

"A woman had entered the river to try to rescue the man who had fallen in and she had been assisted from the water.

"She was very helpful in pinpointing the exact location at which the man had fallen in.

"There was quite a flow on the river with rain in recent days and the man had drifted downstream.

"The water was about 12 feet deep so it was certainly a challenging exercise.

"We searched methodically with a number of firefighters in the water trying to find the man.

"Once we had located him and taken him from the water paramedics immediately started CPR."

The man, who fell in the water at about 2.30pm, was taken to hospital after paramedics had been seen attempting to revive him at about 4.30pm.

He was believed to have been on a bike when he fell into the water off a footpath near Magdalen Bridge, Oxford, and was in the river for about two hours.

Eye witnesses told the Oxford Mail they heard the cyclist scream before falling into the river next to the Oxford University's Botanic Garden.

About 20 emergency vehicles in total attended the scene from 2.30pm where firefighters used a rescue boat to search a section of the waters.

Police spokesman Jack Abell said: "Thames Valley Police can confirm that a man in his 30s has sadly died following yesterday’s fear for welfare incident in Oxford.

"The man was recovered from the river at about 4.30pm and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital where he died a short while later. His next of kin have been informed.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner."

A police cordoned guarded by PCSOs was put up on the south side of the bridge but was removed once the man had been taken to hospital.

Spokesman Paul Smith said three crews attended the scene from Rewley Road, Kidlington and The Slade fire stations.

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Picture: Marc West