A BOAT owner has spoken of the dramatic moment he helped police to bring a pensioner floating in the River Trent "back from the dead".
Police received a report from the captain of Princess River Cruises that a woman was floating in the water at Colwick Marina, at about 12.45pm on Tuesday.
A life ring was thrown to her but when she didn't respond officers feared the worst.
Not wanting the body to sink or get washed down the Trent, PC Mat Mitchell shouted to a passing boat, steered by Alex Bell, for help.
The constable waded into waist-high water to climb aboard the sports cruiser and the pair headed towards the woman.
"She was so motionless and pale," said Mr Bell, 48, who lives on a canal boat at Redhill Marina. "She was just floating in the water and the policeman thought she was dead.
"I didn't really want to look but then I saw her flicker her eyes and said 'she's alive' – and then she opened them.
"I just shouted at the policeman, 'Get in there, she's alive', and then it was a mad scramble to get his clothes off.
"As he was doing that I was driving the boat back round to get close to her again.
"Once we realised she was alive, every second counted."
PC Mitchell stripped to his boxer shorts to jump in and rescue the 73-year-old woman.
Once in the water he dragged her to the river bank where PC Katie Eustace, from The Meadows, waded in to help bring her to shore.
Officers then administered first aid.
"We were pretty convinced she was dead and we all responded to the situation like we were going to recover a body," said PC Mitchell, beat manager for Sneinton.
"As we got closer I was pretty certain she had passed away but to check, I shouted, 'Hello, can you hear me?'
"In one of the most bizarre moments of my career she just opened her eyes.
"I was frantically trying to strip off, then I jumped in and pulled her back to the shore.
"It's certainly not an everyday experience.
"I've been a cop for nearly 20 years and it's the first time I've had to go in to open water.
"You just work on instinct – if it had been my grandma in there I would have expected the cops to jump in."
The woman was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre where she continues to make a good recovery.
Police thanked Mr Bell and are considering the best way to recognise his efforts.
PC Mitchell said: "It went well beyond any sort of civic duty – he was brilliant.
"The whole team played their part and it was probably one of the most satisfying jobs I've been on, because it had a happy ending and we've done someone a good turn."
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