A man who plunged into the River Wear in Durham from an historic bridge is in a serious condition in hospital.
Emergency services, including the air ambulance, were called after the 28-year-old entered the river from Framwellgate Bridge shortly before 5pm on Tuesday (August 18).
The fire service rescue boat was deployed, and the man was pulled from the water.
He received medical attention at the scene before being taken to University Hospital of North Durham, where he remains in a serious condition, Durham Police said.
The large scale emergency response on North Road in Durham
(Image: BRET ROBINSON)
Pictures show emergency crews parked up on North Road, meters away from the bridge.
A spokesperson for Durham Police said: "We were called to reports that a man had entered the River Wear from Framwellgate Bridge, in Durham, just before 5pm last night (August 18).
"Emergency services attended and the 28-year-old man was rescued from the water and received medical attention.
"He was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition."
Framwellgate Bridge
(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service said: "We were called to reports of a person in the river near North Road, Durham, shortly before 4.50pm.
"We dispatched a double-crewed ambulance, a rapid response paramedic, a duty officer, three vehicles from our Hazardous Area Response Team and were supported by Great North Air Ambulance Service.
"One patient was taken by road to University Hospital of North Durham."
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A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson added: “We were called at 4.52pm yesterday (August 18) to a water rescue incident near Silver Street in Durham.
“One fire engine and the water rescue boat from Durham Fire Station attended.
“Crews left the scene at 5.57pm.”
A spokesperson for The Great North Air Ambulance Service, said: "Our critical care team was activated at 5pm to an incident in Durham.
"We had a paramedic and doctor on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 5.09pm.
"Our team worked alongside the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) to assess and treat a patient.
"The patient was taken to hospital by a NEAS road crew, accompanied by our team."