Woman’s life saved in Leeds city centre river rescue drama

LIFESAVERS: Richard Johnson (left) with Johnny Waterton, Richard Goc and Mark Spedding.

POLICE and members of the public worked together to save a woman’s life after she plunged into the icy waters of the River Aire in Leeds city centre.

The four men teamed up to pull the woman to safety during the dramatic river rescue, which happened just before midnight on Friday.

Local resident Richard Goc raised the alarm after spotting the woman in the water near Riverside Court in the Calls area of the city.

Mr Goc alerted Jonny Waterton, who was working as security manager at the Backroom club on Call Lane.

Mr Waterton rushed to the scene and laid on the floor at the water’s edge and managed to grab hold of the woman’s hand.

Mr Goc held on to Mr Waterton’s legs to stop him falling in the water as he clung on to the woman.

Meanwhile, special constables Mark Spedding and Richard Johnson, who were patrolling in a police van in the area, were alerted and went to help.

The four men worked together to pull the woman out of the river and to safety. Special constable Spedding, a 49-year-old father-of-two from Normanton near Wakefield, said: “I don’t think she would have survived if we hadn’t been there to pull her out.”