A woman dies after being dragged five miles along the river near Leeds

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A woman who fell into the River Aire in Leeds and was swept by the current for five miles has died in hospital.

Emergency services were called in the early hours of Thursday after being told a woman had been seen in the water near Clarence Dock.

Officers and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) were deployed, with the woman, in her thirties, pulled to safety near Woodlesford.

Despite their best efforts, she was pronounced dead yesterday afternoon. Inquiries are ongoing to establish how she ended up in the river, but they are not believed to be suspicious.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “At 1.36am yesterday (Thursday), police were alerted that a woman was believed to be in the River Aire near Clarence Dock in Leeds.

“Officers and the National Police Air Service were deployed and the woman was located traveling downstream to Woodlesford where she was brought to safety by firefighters and taken to hospital.

“The woman, who was in her thirties, sadly died in hospital yesterday afternoon.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish how she ended up in the river, but there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances at this time.”