A GWENT man was just "minutes from death" when rescuers plucked him from the freezing River Severn yesterday.

Nick Barnes, who is in his early 30s and from Cwmbran, was jet-skiing with a friend near the old Severn Bridge when he was knocked off his machine and swept out to sea.

The accident happened at around 3.30pm - and a rescue operation was effected within a quarter of an hour.

Mr Barnes' friend headed back to shore and called coastguards.

The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) was alerted and scrambled a boat to rescue the struggling jet-skier from the treacherous currents.

SARA executive fundraising co-ordinator Gary Grant told the Argus: "We launched from Beachley and luckily we were on the scene within 15 minutes. We conducted a search of the area and we found the man, who was near the new Severn Bridge. If we had been just a couple of minutes later I don't think he would have survived."

Mr Grant said that the rescued man was "shaking uncontrollably" and was not fully aware of what was going on.

Mr Barnes was so cold after his ordeal that he could barely speak. Rescuers gave him hot drinks and placed him in the SARA mobile shower unit to raise his body temperature, before he was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital by ambulance, where he was detained overnight.

Mr Grant added: "The temperatures in the area are the lowest of the year and in this kind of weather you are in danger of being blown off anything, especially at low tide.

"The high currents meant that if we had taken any longer to find him I don't think he would have survived."