Members of Newport Pagnell's swift-water rescue team are pictured crossing to the island.

16 February 2009

Firefighters rescued a man who was stuck on an island at Linford Lakes in Milton Keynes this morning.

Crews from Newport Pagnell, Great Holm and Broughton were alerted at 10.48am after a passer-by heard the man calling for help.

The swift-water rescue team from Newport Pagnell launched the rescue boat and brought the man and his dog to safety across a 20-metre stretch of fast-flowing water.

Firefighters were also positioned upstream and downstream as a routine safety precaution while the rescue was carried out.

Watch Manager Mark Robinson from Newport Pagnell Fire Station said: "We understand the man was trying to rescue his dog, which had gone into the river near the derelict church and somehow got across to an island measuring about 30 metres by 100 metres.

"The man managed to reach the island by climbing along a fallen tree, but once he was there he realised he couldn't get back across with his dog. We understand he had been there for about two hours before someone heard him calling for help."

Mark added: "There is a lot of fast-flowing water around at the moment because of the melting snow, so we would like to remind everyone to be extra careful near waterways.

"Bearing in mind it is half term, we would particularly like children and their parents to be aware of the hazards."