FIRE crews made a dramatic rescue of a woman from the River Usk last night.

The woman came close to drowning after being swept three quarters of a mile down the River Usk towards the sea.

She had fallen into the river close to the Millennium Bridge, Newport, at around 1.04am this morning, with rescue crews managing to get to her just before she was washed into the sea.

A crew from Malpas fire station's technical rescue station was sent after receiving a call from the police.

Station manager Shaun Moody said: "She had gone down under the water a couple of times, it was touch and go, but we were able to get to her at the last possible minute before she was washed out to sea."

A small inflatable boat had been launched into the river near George Street Bridge.

After being rescued, the woman was taken to Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital suffering from exhaustion and hypothermia.

Did you see the incident? Email newsdesk@southwalesargus.co.uk or call 01633 777226.