Nurses tell of York river rescue drama (From York Press)

Nurses tell of York river rescue drama

12:04pm Thursday 23rd August 2012 in News By Gavin Aitchison, gavin.aitchison@thepress.co.uk

TWO nurses honeymooning in York saved a man from the River Ouse, after he tripped and fell just yards in front of them.

Chris Davidson, 25, and his wife Liz, 24, were walking into the city centre for a meal when the drama unfolded at King’s Staith.

Mr Davidson said: “We were walking along by the Ouse near The Lowther pub and this fellow was walking in the opposite direction, when he tripped and just fell in.

“We were the first ones on the scene and pulled him out of the river. We were all dressed up for a night out but ended up covered in river mud from pulling him out.”

The couple, from Kenilworth in Warwickshire, married last Saturday and came north for a two-day break at Hazelwood Castle.

The drama happened at about 6.30pm on Tuesday.

“We were going to the Minster area, looking for somewhere decent to eat,” said Mr Davidson.

“We were just talking about what to do for the night when that fellow ended up in the water. He just fell in basically. He was right next to the edge and trpiped and fell in. He was very lucky he fell right next to King’s Staith - he was in the water but clinging on to the edge for dear life, and we pulled him back up.

“He was conscious but we did not get a chance to talk to him. We had to go back to the hotel and get changed because we were covered head to toe with the grime from the Staith.

“It has made it a trip we will never forget - first getting married, then pulling someone out of the river!”

Yorkshire Ambulance Service took the man to hospital. He was the second man to be rescued from the Ouse in the space of two hours. In the afternoon, York Boat staff pulled a man from the water near Lendal Bridge.