Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team (TVMRT) were training at Bowhill Estate on Saturday when the callout to Peebles came.

And 10 rescuers with medical equipment rushed to the scene near Neidpath Castle.

TVMRT team leader Chris Chapman said: “The man was very lucky to have been spotted floating down the river by two walkers, who dragged him out to safety.

“The Tweed was in spate and very cold due to thawing snow cover on high ground, and severe hypothermia would be a serious concern had the gentleman spent much longer in the water.”

The man was airlifted by a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer to Borders General Hospital suffering from suspected chest and head injuries.

And the team, which helped police and ambulance officers at the scene, said he had become hypothermic.

The team of 10 rejoined 17 colleagues later to continue their training exercise in the snow at Bowhill.

The rescuers were also called out to help locate a suspected missing man near Romanno Bridge at 8pm on Sunday.

But the man turned up safely a few minutes after the team started to mobilise with 18 members, three vehicles and two search and rescue dogs.