Fisherman rescues friend from icy waters of Ouse (From York Press)

Angler rescues friend from icy waters of River Ouse in York

9:17am Saturday 4th February 2012 in News

AN ANGLER heroically rescued his friend when he slipped into the River Ouse while fishing in York.

Bobby Mensah, 56, came to the aid of Adie Addy, 42, when he heard his cries for help.

Bobby said: “When I first heard him shout my name I thought he wanted me to hold the net to land a fish. I had to run about a hundred yards to where he was. When I got there he was holding his fishing box above his head and told me he was sinking.”

The pair were competing in a local fishing match on a piece of private land on the river.

Adie slipped in off the muddy bank after getting caught in some reeds as he leant forward and, despite being a strong swimmer, was taken aback by the cold, with the water reaching up to his neck. The mudboots, fishing gear and three layers of clothing that he was wearing also weighed him down.

“It was really slippy on the bank,” said Bobby. “But I managed to get down there and pull him out.

“When he was out of the water you could tell he was really freezing.”

Adie went home where he had a hot shower before returning to fish again, however the match had to be called off early because nobody had got a bite in the first five hours.

Adie said: “It’s a just a really nice story. I’m glad he was there.”

Bobby and Adie, who are both from Horsforth, Leeds, had travelled to York with their local club, the Yarnbury Angling Club.

“We are regularly out in York and we’ll be back,” said Adie. “We fish there all the time.”

The Press launched Think, Don’t Swim, an awareness campaign about the dangers of falling or jumping in the River Ouse last summer, when a barman drowned after jumping in the water – the third person to die in the river last year.