AFTER witnessing a number of rescues a canoeist has issued a plea to build steps on a river bank to aid people who fall in.

Robin Powell has been canoeing in the River Severn in Worcester for 70 years. He said:

“From the railway bridge down to the cathedral there is nowhere to get out of the water. Even if you have a life belt. The high wall upstream is impossible to climb out of.”

Mr Powell said a man who was rescued on Tuesday was in the cold water for 30 minuets before a ladder was lowered into the water which enabled him to get out. Mr Powell witnessed the rescue and said the ladder was the “saving grace.”

Mr Powell, 80 said

“There used to be steps by the fountains. There also used to be steps up stream of Worcester Bridge.

But not now so there is no way to get out from the rail bridge until you get to the ferry steps.

“That is a long way.”

“At the very least they could build steps so if a person gets hold of a life belt they can get out of the water.

The man who was pulled from the river on Tuesday was taken to hospital after fire crews from Worcester and Malvern used a ladder and a raft to rescue him from the rive by South Quay at 11.36am.

Police and paramedics were also at the riverside to help.

The man was taken to hospital however the ambulance service was unable to confirm where he was taken.