AN 80-YEAR-OLD woman caught short near a river and who had to cling to a branch when she fell in the water has thanked the emergency services for rescuing her.

Eirwen Rosam was walking with family by the Dysynni River earlier this month. Unable to make it to the toilet on the way back from the walk, Eirwen told the Cambrian News she needed “to relieve herself”, but the decision to go on the riverbank at Ynysmaengwyn almost ended in disaster.

Recalling the events of Monday, 26 July, Eirwen, from Tywyn but now living in Basingstoke, said: “We were having a family walk by the Dysynni on a lovely sunny Monday afternoon. On the way back I felt I needed to relieve myself and as there were no one in sight I went to the side of the bank and bent down and I knew nothing more until I was completely immersed in the muddy water of the drain ditch.

“I came to with my head in the water, quite calm and heard a voice saying ‘If you stay under the water you will be gone’, or something to that effect. I don’t know if it was my brain or something but it certainly not me talking to myself.

“I then pressed down to get my head out of the water but there was no leverage and my hand went further down so I looked up and saw a branch. Luckily the branch was low enough for me to grasp. What a relief. I was quite content to wait for the firefighters.”

Eirwen’s daughter had the what3words app on her mobile phone and used that to tell the emergency services where they were.

Aberdyfi Coastguard and North Wales Fire and Rescue attended the scene. A team spokesperson said: “We were tasked at 5.30pm to an 80-year-old woman hanging on a branch in the water at Ynysymaengwyn. We joined the team from Tywyn Fire Station who had already made the casualty safe.

“Together, using our rescue stretcher, we moved the casualty to a safe area and jointly provided first aid until the paramedics attended. The casualty was taken to Bronglais hospital for treatment.”

Commenting on the coastguard Facebook page, Eirwen said: “Many thank yous from me. It was a horrendous situation. Thank goodness for the branch that saved me and the firefighters who in got me up to the top of the 10 foot bank with help from the coastguards who carried me to a safe place. Bronglais Hospital was wonderful too. So much care from everyone. Most of all to my husband who shouted for our wonderful daughter who called 999 and started the ball rolling.”

Aberdovey Coastguard said they were “so pleased to hear that everyone is okay”.