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Man, 85, rescued from river after clinging to tree

Man, 85, rescued from river after clinging to tree

An 85-year-old man who clung to a tree after becoming stuck in a fast-flowing river was rescued after police used a drone to find him.

Thermal images revealed his location in the River Weaver, in Winsford, after Cheshire Police received reports he was in trouble on Tuesday afternoon.

The information was passed to firefighters who rescued the man from the water before transferring him to the care of paramedics.

Insp Paul Heatley, of Cheshire Police, said: "The drone unit's help was absolutely vital in finding him and there is a strong probability that their expertise saved his life."

News imageCheshire Constabulary Overhead view of six fire and rescue officers in yellow hi-vis uniform and red helmets as they gather around the unidentifiable manas they haul him fromt he water onto the grassy river bank. There are tree branches over and around them obscuring the view.Cheshire Constabulary
Fire and rescue officers hauled the man to safety from the River Weaver

He added: "We wish the man a speedy recovery after this ordeal."

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