A middle-aged man tried to kill himself by jumping off Oxford's Iffley Lock but was saved by firefighters.

The 53-year-old leapt into the River Thames in an attempt to commit suicide last night.

Firefighters rushed to the scene and used an inflatable boat to reach the man before pulling him to safety.

He was taken to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital suffering the effects of cold.

A spokesman for Oxfordshire Ambulance Service said: "He had been threatening to jump off the end of the lock. I do not think he was in the water for very.

"He was suffering from exposure and was very wet."

The incident happened at about 10.30pm.

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