"Crews did a fantastic job and acted extremely quickly"

London Fire Brigade say that firefighters saved the life of the man who jumped off Putney Bridge into the Thames at lunchtime today, March 19.

White Watch Manager Matthew Sinclair, from Wandsworth fire station, who was in charge of the incident, says: " Fortunately he was quite close to the shore, so firefighters used ropes to rescue the man from the river. Once they’d got him onto dry land they gave him first aid and were subsequently assisted by the RNLI  until the ambulance arrived.

" Crews did a fantastic job and acted extremely quickly to save this man’s life."

The man was taken to hospital by ambulance following the dramatic rescue.

Two fire engines from Wandsworth, one from Fulham, and a fire rescue unit from Battersea, were on the scene. The Brigade’s fire boat was also called to the incident. Around 25 firefighters and officers were present.

The Brigade says it was called at 1.22pm and the incident was over at 2.15pm.

The drama began when horrified onlookers saw the man jump from the bridge into the river.

As emergency services were called to the scene, people began tweeting in disbelief about what was happening.

Dean O'Reilly, @deanoreilly tweeted: " Guy jumps off Putney bridge in the cold right now &casually swims
dwn river like its nothing fire engines and ambulances on scene."

Alicia Robinson, @aliciarobinson1 said: " Think a body has been found in the Thames near Putney Bridge, 2 helicopters, 2 rescue boats."

According to witnesses, the man was apparently attempting to swim eastwards, but was finally lifted out by rescue teams close to Putney rail bridge and onto the shore at Hurlingham Mansions in Fulham.

Around 3pm police said that the man was on his way to hospital in a stable condition.

March 19, 2013