A PENSIONER who was hurt when she took a "potentially fatal" fall into the canal at Skipton from the muddy towpath is demanding action to make it safer.

And 73-year-old Anne Whitmore has hailed as "a hero" the passer-by who pulled her from the water after she had struggled to get out for almost 10 minutes.

Mrs Whitmore, who lives in Mallory Court at the side of the canal in Skipton, said she slipped on mud and fell into the canal, severely bruising her face. She managed to get to her feet but found the water was almost up to her neck and she could not drag herself out.

Mrs Whitmore said: "I was incredibly lucky - firstly that I was not knocked unconscious and secondly that my rescuer turned out to be Michael Anderson, a sergeant in the Royal Marines home in Skipton on leave.

"He was able to grab me under the arms and lift me out quickly, but I had already been in the water for 10 minutes and was getting really cold and starting to panic. It was potentially fatal. If anyone young, or older or infirm had happened to come along instead they might not have been able to get me out so readily.

"I was very fortunate it was Michael - he's my hero!"

Mrs Whitmore was escorted the half-mile or so to her home by Sgt Anderson. Neighbours then drove her to Airedale Hospital where she was examined by doctors and allowed home after several hours. It was only the following day that severe bruising appeared on her face and she had pains in her chest.

She said: "It was shock and it took some time to hit me. When I fell in I was taking my dog for a walk and going to take a look at the swans' nests on that stretch. I'd already walked as far as I could along Broughton Road before going on to the canal path. The dog was on a long lead and had no bearing on the fall.

"The towpath is in a very bad condition on the stretch about half-a-mile from Belmont Bridge in the direction of Gargrave. Something must be done about it. A new surface has been laid down in the other direction, but it's the part near the town centre that requires more urgent attention."

Mrs Whitmore has written to the Canal and River Trust to report the accident and to demand action to make the path safer.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: “We are very sorry to hear about the accident and hope the lady is recovering from her ordeal.

"We recognise this stretch of towpath is a popular route for people living nearby and we would very much like to see the surface improved.

"The trust has been working with Craven District Council to identify potential funding sources to upgrade the Skipton to Gargrave towpath. Unfortunately a funding application to the Department for Transport in 2013 to improve this section of towpath was unsuccessful but the project still remains a priority for both organisations.

"In the meantime we would ask everyone to take extra care when using the towpath in this area. It can be slippery, particularly in the winter and after heavy rain, so people may want to take an alternative route if conditions are very muddy.”