Emmerdale star saved dog from drowning - Daily TV round-up

'Emmerdale' star James Thornton is said to be 'lucky to be alive' after he saved his dog by jumping into a river.

The Jack Russell called Daisy belongs to the actor and his wife, ‘Gavin and Stacey’ actress Joanna Page, and had jumped into the River Aire in Leeds without warning while the pair were out jogging last month.

Thornton, who plays John Barton in the soap, jumped in after the dog, but then found himself overwhelmed by the current.

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“I wasn’t scared when I jumped in, but once I hit the water and realised I couldn’t swim back against the current I was worried about what I’d done. There had been torrential rain and the river was moving fast.

“Once I caught up with Daisy I just had to let us be carried along and when we got to some banking I managed to get to the side and scramble out.”

The actor, who announced he's quitting the show next year, was taken to hospital after swallowing dirty water in the river and suffering severe mouth ulcers. He also damaged his eye.

“At one point I had 20 mouth ulcers and could hardly speak.” [Daily Mirror]

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