A British radio presenter rushed to help a dog that couldn't get out of the Thames, but soon needed help himself. – They are the real heroes – he says about the rescuers who helped him safely return to the shore.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (the equivalent of the Polish Water Rescue Service) announced the rescue operation on the Thames in London on Tuesday. The day before at 17:05 RNLI lifeguards received a report that radio presenter Jordan North had jumped from a pontoon into the water near Hammersmith Bridge to help a Labrador. Rescuers who arrived three minutes later found the presenter with his dog on his lap on a platform in the middle of the river.
Rescuers in action on the ThamesRNLI
“While we always encourage people to call 999 and ask for help from the Coast Guard rather than going into the water themselves, we are pleased that in this case we were able to help Jordan and the dog get back to dry land safely,” said Gavin Simmons. Commander of the RNLI unit operating on the Thames.
The presenter was 'starting to panic a bit'
Jordan North talked about the rescue operation in the “Capital Breakfast” program, which he hosts on Capital Radio. He noted that rescuers arrived when he “started to panic a little.” – I started to get nervous because I thought my legs would give out. I couldn't last much longer, so they arrived just in time, he said. He noted that RNLI paramedics are the “real heroes”. – They came out and took me and covered me with a blanket. They are the heroes, he said.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a non-governmental organization dealing with water rescue, founded in 1824. According to the RNLI's website, its lifeboats go out on average more than a hundred times over Christmas.
Rescue operation in LondonRNLI
Main photo source: RNLI