'Miracle' as father and son saved

Michael Byrne: "You couldn't even breathe for one second"

A father and his nine-year-old son who were swept away in a rain-swollen Devon river have been rescued.

Michael Byrne, nine, was playing with his pet dog by the West Lyn river near his home at Lynmouth when he fell in.

His father Daryl, dressed in a coat and pyjamas, dived into the river to save him, but also got into trouble and both were left clinging to a rock.

The pair were rescued by Devon and Somerset Fire Service who said they were lucky to be alive.

There was no way I was letting my son go in that river without trying at least to save him Daryl Byrne

An RMB Chivenor helicopter had been called out but the fast-flowing river, surrounding trees and a 40ft (12m) embankment made an airlift impossible.

Instead firefighters used ropes and ladders to rescue the pair who were taken to hospital suffering cold and shock.

Michael said: "I got swept away because of the fast, crashing water. It pulled me away.

"It was really hard to swim in the river, it was always gushing on top of you and you couldn't even breathe for one second."

The pair hung onto a rock in the middle of the river

Mr Byrne, who was swept down the river, said: "There was no way I was letting my son go in that river without trying at least to save him.

"Luckily there was a branch that my knee got caught on and that helped me onto the rocks where he was."

Dave Harding, of Lynmouth Coastguard, said: "The river conditions were horrendous. I have not seen it as bad as that.

"If you fell into the river you would be lucky to survive. For the father to survive as well is a miracle."

Station officer Glenn Wells, based at Barnstaple fire station, said: "They are extremely lucky to be alive and we are very pleased with the positive outcome of this operation."