FIREFIGHTERS rescued a paddle boarder after she got into difficulty on the River Stour.
A passerby called emergency services after a female paddleboarder fell into the water and got a hold of the nearest tree in Flatford Mill, Flatford.
Crews from Manningtree, Colchester and Urban Search and Rescue team attended to rescue the struggling paddleboarder.
Station Manager Terry Maher said: "Although she was wearing a wetsuit, she didn't have a life jacket or floatation device.
"She also has not used a leash to attach her to the paddle board, which caused it to float away.
"Manningtree's crew did a brilliant job.
"They quickly found her and used throw lines to rescue her.
"Thank you to Colchester's crew, who used their inflatable sledge to recover her paddle board.
"If you're going out on your paddle board, please make sure you wear a buoyancy aid and attach yourself to your paddle board using a leash."
The casualty was rescued close to 1pm on Monday, January 9, and was left in the care of the Ambulance Service as she was suffering from the effects of exposure to cold.
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