MEMBERS of the public and York taxi drivers helped North Yorkshire Police rescue a man from the River Ouse in the city.

Police were called to reports of a man in the river near Skeldergate Bridge at about 9.45pm on Tuesday, and boats from the fire service, York Rescue Boat and fire crews from Acomb were sent to the scene.

Hackney Carriage driver Saf Din said he had just dropped off a fare nearby when he heard the man in distress in the water.

He said: "I had my window down a couple of inches and fortunately for the guy heard loud grunting noises and realised very quickly it was someone in trouble.

"The first thing I did was get on the radio to other drivers and ask for help. I then asked a female member of the public to phone 999 while I assisted and another passer-by helped me, we went onto the barge and put long wooden poles into the water and tried to drag him to us. There was no response, other than grunting."

Within minutes, police and ambulance crews arrived at the scene and lines and buoyancy aids were thrown into the river. The man managed to grab hold and was eventually dragged to the shore.

Members of the public, including local drivers, were at the riverbank and helped the man to safety before he was taken to hospital for further treatment.

He said: "He had a black jacket on in his hood up, and he wouldn't respond to anything. He was shivering and got wrapped up in blankets straight away, he didn't look in a great state.

"This situation was helped by taxi drivers' great radio system. About ten turned up in the end, which is brilliant, it shows how much else we do in the city."

A police spokeswoman said the man was taken by ambulance to York Hospital and was later discharged.