A fisherman in his 70s has died after falling into the River Severn in Bridgnorth. The elderly man has not been identified but is from the West Midlands.He was pulled from the river downstream of the town at about 5.20pm yesterday.

Police, ambulance service and fire crews from across the county were called to the Riverside Caravan Park, in Kidderminster Road and were joined by the County Air Ambulance.

A police officer used a buoyancy aid to retrieve the man and fire crews used a safety line to help bring him to the side of the river.

The man was dragged from the river and attempts were made to try and resuscitate him before he was airlifted to hospital.

Unfortunately, despite the efforts of the crews, he was later pronounced dead.

It is believed the man was in the water for some time, but the cause of death is still unknown.

The alarm was raised by a 999 call made from the caravan site at 5.15pm.

Spokesman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, Murray MacGregor, said: “It is believed that the man had been fishing.

“Ambulance staff worked with fire and police to get the man from the river and crews immediately started resuscitation attempts.

“The man was airlifted to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford with resuscitation on-going and medics at the hospital were on standby.

“Sadly, despite all of the efforts it was not possible to save the man and he was confirmed dead shortly after arrival.”

Spokesman for West Mercia Police, Richard Ewels, said the cause of death was not yet known and a post mortem examination would be carried out today or tomorrow.