A dog lover has explained how he rescued a distressed pooch from the River Wensum, leaving the scene needing stitches in his eyebrow.

Reece Taylor was heading to Morrisons at around 6.30am on Thursday when he saw a distressed couple on the phone at the Foundry Bridge.

Mr Taylor, 27, recalled: "I could hear the man saying: "Please help, my dog is going to drown".

"I looked into the river but I couldn't even see the dog because it was underwater.

Norwich Evening News: Reece Taylor after stiches were put in his eyebrowReece Taylor after stiches were put in his eyebrow (Image: Reece Taylor)

"Growing up my mum was a bit of a Dr Dolittle so a number of different dogs, rabbits and cats would come stay with us.

"So I stripped down to my undies and left my bike."

The city centre man - who works as a Deliveroo rider and a part-time chef at The Whalebone - managed to help lift a two-year-old Italian cane corso Bentley on to the side of a boat moored at the Norwich Yacht Station.

Norwich Evening News: Bentley, a two-year-old cane corso, had to be rescued after falling in to the River Wensum in NorwichBentley, a two-year-old cane corso, had to be rescued after falling in to the River Wensum in Norwich (Image: Jade Lanigan)

Bentley - who weighs 60 kilos - belongs to Cambridgeshire couple Jade Lanigan and Jacob Williams who were on a boating holiday in the city with their 11-year-old son Jamie.

Mr Taylor said: "We managed to get a rope around his neck and after a couple of attempts managed to hoick him into the boat with Jade above water.

"I had been bitten because Bentley was in so much distress. I didn't realise the full extent until I got out of the water and looked at my face."

Norwich Evening News: Reece Taylor who lives in NorwichReece Taylor who lives in Norwich (Image: Reece Taylor)

Mr Taylor went straight to the walk-in centre and was told to head to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where a surgeon put stiches in his right eyebrow.

He said: "If I had cycled past and saw the dog drown in the river I would never have been able to live with myself knowing I could have helped. I don't regret it.

"I was confident in my ability to swim and I do not blame Bentley for the stitches. He was distressed and flailing around in the water.

"He would have been a big softy with me on land."

Norwich Evening News: Bentley enjoying his trip along the BroadsBentley enjoying his trip along the Broads (Image: Jade Lanigan)

Mr Taylor has stayed in touch with the couple and plans to visit Bentley in Cambridge in the future.