TWO heroes who pulled a man to safety after he fell from his allotment into a river have been praised by firefighters.

The men came to the aid of the man who had fallen from a ladder at Witton Park allotments and into the River Blakewater, which runs alongside the allotments.

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Fire crews were called to the scene at 11.30am on Friday and the man was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital.

Crew manager Lee Garnett, from Blackburn fire station, said: “A man had fallen off a ladder into a fast-flowing stream.

“Two quick-acting men who had allotments on the site heard the shout from the casualty and bravely dragged him to safety.”

“On arrival, ambulance crews treated the casualty while fire crews assisted and provided access via a ladder.

“He was carried to safety on a stretcher and transported to hospital by the air ambulance for a thorough check of his injuries.

“The rapid actions of the two men on the allotment site has certainly reduced more serious injury or worse, had he not been heard or found.”