A QUICK-THINKING couple who saved the lives of two canoeists by hauling them from a raging stretch of the River Thames urged people to respect the river.

David and Veronica Taunt were aboard their cruiser moored near Abingdon Bridge when they saw a wooden canoe split in two as it smashed sideways into the structure on Sunday evening.

Throwing a nearby rope into the water, the couple, of Kings Sutton, were able to haul the men to safety from the river they described as "like white water".

The canoeists, who were wearing life jackets but had no buoyancy aids in their vessel, did not identify themselves, but were believed to be aged 35 to 40 and from Oxford.

Mr Taunt, 65, and his wife, 55, said the two men were swept away by the flow and were unable to fight against it. He said: "It was about 8.30pm and we saw them hit the bridge parapet. Luckily we had some rope handy. It was split-second timing and, although the bridge is probably 50 metres away from us, they were washed down here in seconds.

"They had one chance to grab the rope and, thankfully, they caught it. It took every ounce of strength my wife and I had to hold on to them and haul them in."

Mr Taunt, who is semi-retired, pulled a muscle in his shoulder during the rescue, but said it was a small price to pay. "I suppose we probably saved a couple of guys' lives," he said.

"It was so lucky we were there. They would have been swept away and could have gone over a weir." He said: "Their boat was destroyed so I think they just went and got a bed and breakfast for the night."