TAXI driver had to be rescued from a river after breaking his shoulder when his dinghy capsized.

A lifeboat was sent to rescue Ashley Richardson who was desperately trying to stay afloat after the accident because his injuries meant he could not swim to safety.

Mr Richardson, 56, who runs a taxi firm in Uppingham, had been staying with a friend near Norwich, before the accident on Thursday last week.

Speaking from his bed at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital he said: "I was trying to moor the dinghy and stood up to grab the wooden railings. I had both legs in the dinghy, but it suddenly pulled away.

"I fell in the river and was hanging onto the railings. I felt my shoulder go and I was hanging on for dear life.

"I could not move because I was in so much pain. I was in the water for about five to 10 minutes.

"Someone from the pub came out to help me and luckily the rescue boat was right opposite, thank goodness."

Mr Richardson and his friend had taken the dinghy out on the River Yare near Norwich for the first time on Thursday. Both men were wearing life jackets.

Mr Richardson said: "I've broken and dislocated my shoulder, but it could have been much worse.

"If the lifeboat had not been there, I'd still be there now or floating down the river dead."

When Mr Richardson, who has two children and two step-children, put his hand on the wooden railings to tie up the dinghy, it moved away, leaving him hanging on.

The jerk dislocated his shoulder and he was tipped over into the water.

Leslie Mogford, who runs Norwich's Riverside Lifeboat, was working nearby and sent the boat out to rescue the man.

He said: "With all the cries for help it was obvious that he was in some distress, so we sprinted for the lifeboat at the yard and launched the boat.

"When we got to the scene we managed to get the man into our dinghy and make him as comfortable as possible.

"We administered basic first aid to him and called the ambulance. He was obviously soaking wet and in so much pain he could not talk."

http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/Taxi-driver-rescued-from-river.4141439.jp