Man rescued from Avon River near Fisherman’s Haunt in Winkton

FIREFIGHTERS went to the rescue of a man in distress near a river in Winkton in the early hours.

The alarm was raised around 1.20am on Monday amid concerns for the welfare of the casualty who had been heard shouting for help in the River Avon off Salisbury Road.

Two local fire crews responded along with a Poole-based technical rescue team, and found the man at the other side of the river.

He was brought to safety and taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment within an hour.

A Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were called by the police at 1.24am this morning to assist with a search after reports that a man had been heard shouting for help from the river near the Fisherman’s Haunt at Salisbury Road, Christchurch.

“Two local crews and the technical rescue team from Poole attended; the casualty was located on the other side of the river and was brought to safety, with the stop around 2.10am.”