Bystander rescues swimmer from Oulujoki after hearing cries for help

A bystander rescued a person from the Oulujoki river in Oulu early Friday morning after hearing cries for help from an open window, according to a press release from the rescue service.

The bystander was about to go to sleep around 3 a.m. when he heard the cries, went to investigate, and spotted someone in the water near the Tuira beach. He took a rescue boat kept at the beach, rowed out to the person in distress, and managed to pull them into the boat.

Once ashore, rescue and paramedic crews examined the person and took them to further care. Authorities praised the bystander as a “meritorious citizen who did an excellent job saving this person.”