A MAN saved a pensioner’s life after she fell into a fast-flowing freezing river while attempting to rescue a dog.

Luke Hartshorn, an associate director at Walker Singleton Chartered Surveyors, sprung into action to help the 66-year-old woman on Saturday morning.

She got into difficulty in the River Calder just before 10am after the trainee guide dog she was out walking slipped into the water.

As she was trying to get the dog out, she too slipped down the banking and into the ice-cold water.

Only by grabbing onto a tree trunk bent over the river did she manage to stop herself from being dragged under by the current. 

Former lifeguard Luke, who was walking his dog Tess along the river by Sowerby Bridge, saw the commotion at the water’s edge.

The 35-year-old said: “It really was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

"People have asked me if it was freezing but I was running on adrenalin so didn’t feel anything. 

“I managed to get hold of another branch, held onto the woman, and helped her to bring her arm around the tree so that people on the bank could reach her.

"Then the crowd pulled me out and as I was getting dressed the fire service and paramedics arrived.”

Crews from Halifax attended as well as the specialist water rescue teams from Rastrick and Bingley.