A boat attendant who just a week ago saved a man from drowning in the River Ouse has now rescued a dog on the same stretch of water.

Tom Skelton, 19, dived to the rescue of a man who jumped off Lendal Bridge in York in an apparent suicide attempt.

Then days later he and workmate 20-year-old Matt Boulton were called to the aid of a struggling Collie spotted near Lendal Bridge by King's Arms landlord Mike Hartley.

Tom, who lives in York and works with Matt for the Red Boat company at King's Staith, York, told today how the first rescue unfolded.

"It was about 9.30am and we were all in the boatyard getting ready for work when we heard this big splash," he said.

"We thought someone must have thrown something in but then the man surfaced - right in the middle of the river. He splashed about a bit but made no effort to swim.

"Someone called an ambulance while I threw him a life ring, but he didn't try to take it. I knew I was the closest to him so I took off my shoes and dived in.

"I swam holding him in the recovery position with my arm round his throat until we reached a boat at the side."

Tom was joined in the water by his boss, John Howard, who together with onlookers helped pull the man on board.

"Afterwards, the man thanked me," said Tom. "He seemed to be grateful that I had saved him. I suppose it was a cry for help." The man was then taken to hospital for psychiatric treatment.

Tom said he and Matt rescued the collie dog by crossing by boat to where it had scrambled on to building site scaffolding.

Confused and exhausted, it slipped back into the water and was panicking when it was lifted safely into the boat by the pair and taken back to the riverbank.

The black and white dog, which was wearing an expensive collar, is now in the care of City of York Council.

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