WATCH: Kayaker pulled from river during dramatic rescue

A woman has been rescued from a Co Antrim river after getting into difficulties while kayaking at the weekend.
The rescue operation.The rescue operation.
The rescue operation.

Hannah Birt became trapped in the Six Mile Water at Massereene Bridge in Antrim while kayaking on Saturday afternoon.

Heavy currents caught her at approximately 3pm, pinning her up against the bridge arch.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Birt said: “The canoe flipped over and it just pinned my legs in the boat. My hips were taking the full force of water. I was pinned under the water so I went for the surface.

“I yelled up ‘I’m gonna die’ and I called for ropes, and people dropped them down. I couldn’t move, I was cold and hypothermic. The rescue services were brilliant,

“I couldn’t thank them enough, as well as the people who were shouting and keeping me awake. I would have drowned if I had not got my head above water at that time.”

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) Specialist Rescue Team performed the rescue at Bridge Street, supported by NIFRS personnel from Antrim and Ballymena and members of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Lough Neagh Rescue.

It is understood the rescue operation took approximately one hour to complete.

Praising the emergency services, a spokesperson for the Six Mile Water Trust said: “Whilst the Six Mile Water is a beautiful river, it can be a very dangerous place to its users. Well done to the rescue services and team.”

The NIFRS uploaded dramatic footage of the rescue on social media on Sunday, March 5.

Check out the video by clicking on the NIFRS tweet.