Radio DJ Jordan North was rescued from the River Thames after trying to save a struggling dog. The incident occurred near Hammersmith Bridge in west London, when the 34-year-old former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here contestant spotted a Labrador in distress in the water.
While out on a run, North didn’t hesitate to jump into the river to try to rescue the dog, but quickly found himself in trouble. He later described becoming “panicky” as he struggled to stay afloat, fearing he wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer.
RNLI to the Rescue
Fortunately, a crew from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), who were conducting an exercise nearby, were flagged down by members of the public. They reached North and the dog within three minutes. North expressed his gratitude to the RNLI during his Capital Breakfast radio show, saying, “A big thank you and a massive shout out to RNLI Chiswick who came and rescued me because I was getting a bit panicky.”
He added, “I was getting a bit nervy as well because I thought my legs are going to go, I can’t hold on much longer, so they got there just in time. The real heroes here are the RNLI who came out and got me, put a blanket round me. They’re the heroes.”
Rescue Details
Thames Commander Gavin Simmons, along with RNLI crew members Sid Blake, Tom Coe, and Cameron Crawley, found North sitting on a float, holding the dog in his lap. Video footage released by the RNLI shows the crew approaching the scene, which was illuminated by members of the public, and one of the crew members can be heard recognizing North: “That’s what’s-his-name off the radio, isn’t it?”
The footage shows North crossing a metal pole to board the lifeboat with the help of the crew. The RNLI was able to safely return both North and the dog to dry land.
RNLI’s Statement
Gavin Simmons from the RNLI commented, “We are on call to help all those who find themselves in difficulty on the water 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, even our beloved pets.” He also urged the public not to attempt rescues themselves, adding, “While we’d always encourage people to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard instead of entering the water themselves, we’re happy that in this instance we were able to help Jordan and the dog safely back to dry land.”
The dog was also rescued and reportedly made it safely back to shore, though further details about its condition were not shared.
Public Recognition
North was visibly relieved and grateful for the RNLI’s swift response, and his rescue story has since captured public attention, highlighting the bravery and quick thinking of emergency services, as well as the importance of not attempting dangerous rescues without professional help.