The woman had become stranded in thick mud and was neck-deep in the River Nene when she was dragged to safety just minutes before being swallowed up by rising tidal waters.

Pictures released by Cambridgeshire police show the moment she was spotted by the force chopper's thermal imaging camera, with desperate emergency workers on the ground unable to find her in fading evening light.

After landing the aircraft just in time to throw the stricken woman a rope from the riverbank, the pilot and his crew were yesterday commended for their life-saving actions.

The force's operations chief, Superintendent Karen Daber, said: "The crew took the initiative and did some brilliant work to land the helicopter and rescue the woman.

"They were very much on borrowed time, and their quick thinking was what saved that lady's life. They did a phenomenal job and I am exceptionally proud of them."

The helicopter, piloted by Captain Rick Hill and crewed by police observers Pcs Rob Davies and Lorna Garner, was scrambled from its base at RAF Wyton just before 8.30pm on Tuesday after the woman's family called 999.

Police say she had contacted relatives on her mobile phone to say she was stuck waist-deep in mud on the banks of the River Nene, near Crab Marsh, Wisbech.

Although emergency services, including police, ambulance crews, firefighters and the Spartan Rescue water search team were at the scene within minutes, they could not find the woman.

But it was thanks to the sensitive thermal imaging equipment on board the helicopter that the life-saving breakthrough came within minutes of tragedy.

The police footage showed how her head was identified as a tiny coloured speck, and when the camera zoomed in it showed the woman fighting to keep her head above water.

With no time for ground crews to reach the woman, Capt Hill made a risky landing on the mud flats to allow Pcs Davies and Garner to jump out, throw her a rope and drag her to safety.

Last night the woman was still recovering from her terrifying near-death experience and was said by police to be shaken but unhurt.
Chief Superintendent Andy Hebb joined the chorus of praise for the rescuers.

He said: "I'm sure the two officers and pilot who conducted this rescue would say they were only doing their job, but this was police work at its best.

"It was a co-ordinated, successful effort to find a vulnerable person, which demonstrates the value of having this aircraft.

"Without the swift actions of the helicopter crew, we would not now be talking about a successful rescue, but an unfortunate tragedy."

Cambridgeshire's £4 million police helicopter, a Boeing MD902 Explorer, went into service in June 2006. Costing £500 per hour to fly, it is fitted with state-of-the-art search equipment and is capable of speeds of up to 140 knots (161mph).


BREAKING NEWS 12NOON: A WOMAN'S life was saved after the police helicopter crew successfully pulled off a daring rescue against the clock, it emerged today..

Incredibly only the woman's head was visible above the rising water when the helicopter landed on the banks of the Nene at Crab Marsh, Wisbech.

Officers raced against time then to throw her a rope and haul her to safety with minutes to spare.

The helicopter was scrambled after the Cambridgeshire Police control room was contacted at 8.25pm by the woman's family.

With the tide coming in and the woman stuck waist-high in mud, she had telephoned her family for help.

All emergency services on the ground could not see her, or identify where she may have entered the river.

Ambulance crews, the fire service, Spartan Rescue and a duty officer from the port harbour were called. With the tide rising, the police helicopter used its infra red technology to locate a heat source from the river bed.

When the helicopter located the woman at 9pm only her head was visible above the rising water.

Chief Superintendent Andy Hebb said: "I'm sure the two officers and pilot who conducted this rescue would say they are only doing their job, but this was police work at its best.

"This was a co-ordinated, successful effort to find a vulnerable person which demonstrates the value of having this aircraft. With the tide rising fast, without the swift actions of the helicopter crew using their overhead view to full advantage, we would not now be talking about a successful rescue, but an unfortunate tragedy.

"When the helicopter landed, only the woman's head could be seen with the rest of her underwater and stuck in the mud.

"These officers should be very proud of their actions."