A WOMAN was recovering yesterday after being pulled from the River Thames in Oxford by firefighters after clinging onto a life ring.

Fire crews from Rewley Road and Kidlington were called to the Thames, between Thames Street and Friars Wharf, at about 10.45pm on Monday.

Shortly afterwards they found the woman in four feet of water close to the river bank.

Two fire engines from Oxford and one from Kidlington attended the incident.

Richard Smith, group manager for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the life ring had a flashing light on it which helped firefighters to find the woman.

Mr Smith added: “The ring certainly helped her in the water and gave her some support.

“We don’t know how long she was in the water.”

A fire service boat was used to search the river banks for a missing man while the Thames Valley Police helicopter used its thermal imaging camera and spotlights to search the river.

The woman was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital for a precautionary check, while the missing man was later found by police safe and well, by 11.45pm.

Watch Manager Gary Dawson, the incident commander, said: “The woman was very cold and disorientated when we found her.

“The life ring had offered her some support until a full rescue could take place. We would urge people to take care when walking by the river at night, and to report any missing or damaged life rings to the Environment Agency via the contact details attached to the life ring posts.”

Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Charlotte Redman said officers were alerted after someone saw her fall into the water.

Ms Redman added: “The woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.

“It does not appear that this is being treated as anything other than an accident.”