A PENSIONER has expressed her gratitude to the emergency services who saved her life as she began to drown in the River Stour.

Jane Lovell, 82, owns a beach hut in West Foreshore, Wrabness and lives there every summer.

Whilst on the seafront, she was on the way to visit a friend when her health issues began to catch up to her on Thursday, August 11.

Jane said: “I’ve been swimming in rivers and seas since I was seven and I love it but I’ve become quite incapacitated recently with osteoporosis which makes it more difficult to get into the sea.

“This year I’ve been taking painkillers which have allowed me to get down to the beach, when I get there I have some equipment like a chair and rod to help me into the water.”

Jane was visiting her friend Julie and her daughter who lives a few huts down and on the way back to her hut, she decided to go a little deeper into the water.

When she realised, she couldn’t swim properly, Jane turned back to the shore but she couldn’t feel the ground at her feet.

Jane was submerged when the tide turned in an abrupt fashion, whilst struggling in the water she called out for Julie’s help.

When beachgoers helped Jane out of the water she was drifting in and out of consciousness and bubbles were coming out of her mouth.

Emergency services were called and arrived within ten minutes to help Jane and take her to Colchester hospital.

Jane added: “Emergency services were so helpful and efficient, I am really grateful for their support.

“The situation was so overwhelming and it happened so suddenly, I really thought it was the end for me.

“When I was at Colchester A and E I was drifting in and out of consciousness again, I remember feeling thirsty and I had horrible diarrhoea because of the shock.”

Jane had a canula fitted, x-rays done and was given antibiotics to help her feel better.

Since the harrowing incident, Jane has recovered greatly and has been in the water eight times.