| Newbury-based ambulance staff have praised the hero who helped rescue a drowning male from the Kennet and Avon Canal just after 3.30pm on Wednesday afternoon.
A man in his 40s was seen floating face down in the river, and was rescued by a young man, who entered the water and gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He was helped by more bystanders on the path.
Two ambulances were dispatched to the Wharf – and the first arrived within two minutes of the call.
Royal Berkshire Ambulance NHS Trust Paramedics took over from the bystanders. At this point the patient was unconscious but was making some effort to breathe for himself. The ambulance team provided advanced life support and drug and oxygen therapy to the patient who was conveyed to the North Hampshire Hospital at Basingstoke.
Paramedic Simon Moorwood said,” We’d like to publicly thank all those members of the public, who helped at the scene. We’re particularly grateful to the gentleman who rescued the patient from the water for his fantastic efforts. Without his intervention the patient would certainly have died in the water. He did a great job.”
On arrival at hospital the unconscious patient displayed some signs of improvement. However his condition remained critical as medical teams worked hard to save his life. | 
