The RNLI have shared a safety warning after Jordan North jumped into the River Thames on Monday evening to save a struggling Labrador.
The I’m a Celeb star, 34, was out on a run when he spotted a struggling Labrador near Hammersmith Bridge at 5pm on Monday.
North stepped out from a pontoon into the water to rescue it and was spotted by a member of the public who raised the alarm.
The Chiswick RNLI were out on exercise and reached the DJ just three minutes later, where he waited on a nearby float lift with the dog.
The pair were assisted by members of the public, who held up phone torches to help the RNLI spot him, and were delivered safely back to dry land.
The heroes who delivered North and the dog to safety were Thames Commander Gavin Simmons, alongside crew Sid Blake, Tom Coe and Cameron Crawley.
Social media users have branded North a "national hero," but the RNLI has issued a caution, urging animal lovers not to follow his example.
They said that anyone finding themselves in a similar situation this Christmas calls 999 and asks for the Coastguard, rather than entering the water themselves.
“People underestimate the current and get into trouble. If a dog is in the water the last thing any owner should do is go in themselves,” said Chiswick RNLI lifeboat commander Gavin Simmons.
“Often the dogs are able to get out on their own.”
In light of his rescue, fans on X (formerly Twitter) showed their support for the presenter.
One penned: “Jordan North is a national hero”.
Meanwhile another wrote: “Jordan North jumping into the thames to help a dog has only made me love him even more. Men who care about animals are massive green flags. ”
Despite the support, others echoed the RNLI’s warning, with a social media user writing: “Shouldn’t be branding Jordan North as a hero as it sends the wrong message.
“He put his life in danger and the RNLI had to be called out – that’s not something to be celebrated.
Jordan North jumping into the thames to help a dog has only made me love him even more. Men who care about animals are massive green flags.
— 𝖇𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖎𝖊 ˖°🦇ִ ࣪𖤐 (@bbettiekaren) December 17, 2024
Shouldn’t be branding Jordan North as a hero as it sends the wrong message. He put his life in danger and the RNLI had to be called out - that’s not something to be celebrated. Yes it was a snap decision which you can’t help but, don’t call him a hero. #GMB
— KW (@Norfolk_Kez) December 18, 2024
“Yes it was a snap decision which you can’t help but, don’t call him a hero.”
North recalled the incident on his Capital Breakfast show on Tuesday and thanked the RNLI live on air: “A big thank you and a massive shout out to RNLI Chiswick who came and rescued me because I was getting a bit panicky.
“I was getting a bit nervy as well because I thought my legs are going to go, I can't hold on much longer so they got there just in time.
“The real heroes here are the RNLI who came out and got me, put a blanket round me. They're the heroes.”
North described the incident, explaining that the dog was owned by a “distressed” woman who had asked for help while he was on his run.
He climbed over a 6ft gate to reach the pontoon near the dog.
He said: “I'm on there on my own trying to grab the dog, with my light on my phone going "here boy, here boy".”
“But every time I try to grab him the currents take him, and I thought I can't go in. I walked onto the buoyancy pontoon and I manage to grab the dog, he's panting and crying. His legs have gone and he's so tired and been fighting this current for ten minutes.
“We can't get off this thing floating in the Thames, my leg has gone dead with a dog on me. Everyone is watching, so I yell, ‘Can you call the coastguard, please?’
“But they can't find me so, this was a beautiful sight, everyone put the lights on their phone.”
He describes the incident as a blur, saying he couldn’t remember the names of the dog or the owner and walked home in wet clothes.
