Man, 21, drowns during bid to rescue dog from river

A MAN has died after going into a river to rescue his dog.

The man, 21, and a woman, aged 20, entered the River Weaver near Weir Street, in Northwich, Cheshire, after one of the dogs they were walking fell into the water.

Police, firefighters and paramedics were scrambled to the scene, shortly before 5am on Saturday, to find the woman hanging on to the side of a steep embankment.

Firefighters put a ladder alongside the embankment and helped her to get out of the water and on to dry land, Cheshire Police said.

The woman was then assessed by paramedics before being taken to hospital in an ambulance. She has since been discharged.

An extensive search of the river and its banks was conducted for the 21-year-old man, involving a police helicopter and underwater rescue team and a Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service rescue boat and swift water rescue team.

At around 2.10pm, the underwater rescue team found a body in the river, believed to be that of the 21-year-old man.

Cheshire Police said his family have been informed and the death is not being treated as suspicious.

The dog which was in the water was rescued by firefighters.