BOATING heroes saved a ten-year-old's life after plucking the semi-conscious boy out of the River Ouse. A woman passenger on the boat leapt into the water and dragged the boy ashore after spotting him near the sewage works in Fulford.

North Yorkshire paramedics then treated him on board as her husband ferried the casualty to King's Staith where an ambulance could get access to him.

Station Officer Paul Jackson said: "If it hadn't been for that couple, especially the lady, this boy could quite easily have drowned.

"We will be contacting them to say a big thank you for coming to his rescue, and we hope that this incident will highlight the dangers of this river."

The boy, who has not been named, but is thought to be from the Fulford area, was today said to be recovering well in York District Hospital after the incident at 3.30pm yesterday. An ambulance spokesman said: "We are not certain why he was in the water, but it is worrying because he has told us that he can't swim.

"It is fair to say that he was drowning when this couple found him. We think he must have been in the water and got out of his depth."

Although Station Officer Jackson was able to treat the boy at the scene, the ambulance could not get near him.

He said: "To save the boy having a long and uncomfortable journey on a stretcher, we asked the couple if they would ferry him to King's Staith, while I treated him on board.

"He was met by the ambulance after arriving there."

The couple have not been identified, but are from Billingham in Cleveland

Updated: 16:13 Friday, July 27, 2001