Father snatched daughter from flood

Mark Baxter, a sergeant in the RAF, told how he jumped into the rain-lashed River Wear at Chester le Street, County Durham to pluck three-year-old Leona to safety.

The girl had plunged down the drain and was sucked 150ft through a storm-swollen drain into the river.

Police said that it was only due to her father's quick response that the girl survived.

Mr Baxter realised what had happened and dived into the river to pluck his daughter to safety after she had been thrown into the swollen river from the drain. His wife, Beverley, joined in the rescue.

"I ran across to the river. I seen what I thought was Leona's coat." Pausing to compose himself, Mr Baxter continued: "It wasn't just her coat, it was Leona face down in the river.

"I jumped in, grabbed her. I managed to pass Leona, who was coughing and spluttering and crying, and as I passed her over she was sick and lots of water came out," Mr Baxter said.

Mr Baxter, 34, his wife Beverley, 32, from Leeming, North Yorkshire, were with their children, six-year-old Kiah and Leona, at Riverside Park walking the family dog, Brophy, a 10-month-old boxer-mastiff cross.

Leona was paddling in 6in of flood water when she suddenly disappeared down the uncovered drain, which had been concealed by the flood water.

Paramedics attended the scene and treated Leona for hypothermia and a scrape to the head and bruising. She was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Durham where she was kept in overnight.