THREE quick-thinking friends from York helped save a man’s life after he plunged into the River Ouse.

The trio came to the rescue as they walked through the city centre on Saturday night, raising the alarm when they saw the “lifeless” man in the water near Lendal Bridge.

Police said their actions made the difference between life and death, with the victim being pulled unconscious from the Ouse before being revived by paramedics.

The rescue happened just a week after barman Richard Horrocks, 21, died after jumping from the balcony of a riverside bar, and involved one of his former colleagues, Simon Tomlinson.

Simon, 19, was on his way home from a late shift at York Hog Roast with his friends George Crook, also 19, and Tom Scaife, 17, when they heard a splash caused by the man, who is believed to be in his forties but has not been named, falling into the Ouse. “We crossed Lendal Bridge and went down to the river, and saw this guy in the water, blue in the face,” said Simon, from Clifton Moor.

“Tom and I went to get a life ring, and George started getting ready to jump in.”

Before they threw in the life ring, Simon and Tom managed to stop a passing ambulance and brought paramedics to the edge of the river to help the man, while police officers also headed to the scene.

“We just did out best and stuck around to see the guy brought out,” said Simon.

“The police said to us that if we hadn’t done that, he would definitely be dead.”

Tom, of Rawcliffe, said he and his friends had thought at first the splash had been made by a duck, but when they slowed down for a closer look, they realised it was a body. “We rushed round to the other side of the bridge and George was a bit behind us, so he managed to get the attention of a passing ambulance,” he said.

“Simon and I ran down the steps and I found a life ring and threw it in. We were just about to jump in when the police and ambulance arrived.

“They pulled the body out of the water and after some resuscitation the man regained consciousness.”

Tom said it was a “strange and frightening” experience after seeing the man motionless in the water, adding: “All we could see was a pale and white head – his eyes and mouth were wide open and he looked dead.”

Simon had also worked previously with Mr Horrocks, who died after jumping into the Ouse following his final shift at Coney Street bar Vodka Revolution last week.

He said the number of people still jumping into the river was a worry, and believes more could be done to inform the public about how dangerous the water can be.