Woman in dramatic rescue from River Derwent at Darley Abbey

A woman was taken to hospital after she was rescued from the River Derwent near to Darley Abbey on Monday evening (December 16). A passer-by, who was out with the Cool Runnings running group, phoned 999 while group members and some other passing people jumped into the water to help save her.

The woman, who called emergency services but did not wish to be named, said: "The woman in the river was kept afloat initially by a group of young lads and a boy on his own. I was very proud of everyone for springing into action.

"Some of our stronger running group men jumped over the railing and managed to pull her out and away from the bank. A couple of the girls ran to get floats and everyone generally try to do their best to do something helpful in a stressful situation, whilst a lot of other people just stood watching or filming.

"I can't comment on the group of young lads that got there before us though, they heard screaming and had no idea what the situation was or if someone was being attacked and they jumped to action without a thought for themselves.

"I hope the woman's doing well, emergency services turned up thick and very fast, within 10 minutes of me calling. There were two fire engines, an ambulance and five police cars.

"I understood that the woman, who I believe was 70, fell in near to Lorentes wine bar in Darley Abbey, and they pulled her out at the bridge. She became trapped in the space between the railings and the bridge, so the fire service had to cut the railings."

Derbyshire police said that its role at the scene of the incident was to assist Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) and a spokesman said: "The woman was taken hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing. There are no further updates about her condition."

A DFRS spokesman confirmed that the service had been contacted at about 7.12pm. He said: "We were called to reports of a person in the water near Weirfield Road, in Darley Abbey.

"Firefighters from Nottingham Road, Ascot Drive, specialist swift water rescue crews from Kingsway, Buxton and Leicestershire's Castle Donington station attended the incident.

"One female was rescued and assisted off the bankside by crews, before being handed into the care of East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS)."