A MAN has described the moment he rescued a pensioner from a river while he was out walking his dog.

Allan Burn, 60, had been walking along the River Ribble when he saw what he thought was a football floating in a whirlpool of water.

But then he realised that it was a man floating face up on the River Ribble, between West Bradford Bridge Burngerley Park, Clitheroe.

Mr Burn used a 13 foot branch to pull a man, who is believed to be in his 70s, from the water.

After he was rescued Mr Burn contacted the police while another man, who help had drag the man from the water, contacted the ambulance service.

The man was then taken to Royal Preston Hospital by Air Ambulance and is in a serious condition.

Police are trying to establish his identity and are investigating why he was in the river.

Mr Burn, of Pendle Road, Clitheroe, said: "I was out with my dog and the dog was rooting in some undergrowth then I saw what I thought was a football in the river.

"It was far away out in the river, then I saw it was a man.

"I got a branch and pulled him out from the side.

"I thought it was a dead body but then when I pulled him towards the bank I saw bubbles in his mouth.

"Then I knew I to get him out quickly.

"I pulled him out of the water with another man.

"There was no movement at all and we put him on his side.

"Further down the river the water is fast flowing but his was in a whirlpool.

"I rang the police but my phone had bad reception and the other man had a business phone and he rang his wife who contacted the ambulance."

He was wearing brown corduroy trousers and brown shoes at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information should contact police urgently on 0845 1 25 35 45 quoting log reference number 70eq/300108.