BROMYARD paramedics have been praised for their quick thinking at a river rescue.

Richard Shearsmith, Mark Smith and Paul Johns received commendations this week at the AGM of the Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service.

All three took part in the incident in July, when a woman was rescued from her car after it plunged 20ft down the bank into the River Frome.

Russell Hamilton, chief executive of the ambulance trust, said: "It's clear the prompt actions of the crew prevented the incident becoming more serious and certainly prevented the lady from suffering any more stress."

Arriving on the scene within minutes, the paramedics found the car floating upside down in the flooded river with the woman trapped inside.

Bromyard resident David Jones was trying to get her out.

The paramedics quickly weighed up the risks and two crew members went down the bank with buoyancy aids and kit. The third remained on the bank and helped members of the public manoeuvre a ladder to help the rescuers.

The woman was freed quickly from the car and, although shaken, was uninjured.

Commendations were also given to Alex Emmanuel, Julie Darkes and Andy Timms, who work in the ambulance control centre, for calmly handling a call from a distressed onlooker at the incident.