A YOUNG woman who fell in the river after a seizure on her way to work has thanked two boaters for saving her life.

Imogen Wilkinson was walking near Osney Island at about 8.20am yesterday when she collapsed to the ground.

Unable to stop herself, she rolled into the deep water of the Thames.

The shock of the cold instantly made her stop having a fit and she managed to hold on to the bank, but was unable to climb out.

The 23-year-old sales executive from Boars Hill said: “I felt the seizure coming on so I crouched down and dropped my bag. My glasses fell off – then I fell to the ground. There was a bit of a slope though and I tried to stop myself from falling in the river, but it’s not easy when you’re having a fit.”

Her cries of “help” were heard by nearby narrowboaters John and Jill Jago, who had just woken up.

Nursery nurse Mrs Jago, 60, said: “I was just having a cup of tea and John was dozing. Then I suddenly heard a splash and someone shouting ‘help’. I said to John, ‘someone’s fallen in’.

“We could see Imogen in the water hanging on, so we rushed out and got an arm each and pulled her out.” Mr Jago, 68, who works in the design and print trade, added: “She didn’t panic, she just hung on. It can be very fast-flowing there in the winter months and it’s very deep. If she had not hung on, or had banged her head or gone under the water it would have been much harder to get her out. She was very lucky.”

The couple, who have been together 10 years and have seven children between them, quickly went to find Miss Wilkinson a pair of Mr Jago’s tracksuit bottoms and a fleece jumper to change into. They made her a cup of hot milk while she called her mum.

Mr Jago said: “It was so lucky that we were there. The main thing is that she could have gone into shock but she was very calm.”

In fact Miss Wilkinson went straight home to shower and change her clothes before heading back into work at the Oxford Mail.

Her seizures started in November and despite numerous visits to both her GP and a neurologist, she still does not understand what is wrong.

Miss Wilkinson said: “No-one has told me what to do when I have a seizure. I have one at least once a week.

“The worst was when I was outside McDonald’s in Cornmarket Street. I fell backwards and cracked my skull and had to have two staples.

“I have an appointment to see the neurologist on October 26. But my first GP said to see a mental counsellor. The counsellor said it was inappropriate and sent me back to the GP with a letter. So I got a new GP.”

To say thank you, Miss Wilkinson has invited Mr and Mrs Jago, who both live in Eynsham when they are not on their narrowboat, to dinner with her at her home.