A MAN had a lucky escape when he was rescued from a river.

He was saved only after a factory worker on an early-morning cigarette break spotted him bobbing in the water.

The incident happened around 1.30am on Saturday morning.

Fire and rescue crews from Mirfield and Brighouse were alerted to a report of a person in the River Calder at the back of John Cotton’s at Huddersfield Road, Mirfield.

Watch Commander Neil Dyson, of Brighouse Fire Service, said: “We believe the man had been walking along the bank, making his way home from the pub, when he slipped and fell into the water.

“A lady who was working at John Cotton’s, who had been out for a smoke break, had heard his screams and contacted the emergency services.

“It was probably her smoking that has saved his life, which is unusual.

“When we arrived, the Mirfield firefighters were already there and they had located the gentleman in the water and they were able to get him out.

“With us being the water rescue station we were ready to throw ourselves in, but we were not required.

“Members of Mirfield fire service walked him down to the bank where an ambulance was waiting. He was taken to hospital as a precaution.”