A MAN was rescued by members of the public after getting into difficulty in the water at local beauty spot Keepers Pond on Abergavenny’s Blorenge.

A social media post said bystanders played a vital role in saving the 27-year-old’s life on Monday, June 16.

“I want to give a shout out to the heroes of last night at Keepers Pond,” the post read.

“We saw the very best of humanity yesterday evening when someone got into catastrophic trouble whilst swimming in the pond.

“Everyone worked together, whether it was providing warm blankets, making calls, jumping in the water, waving at emergency vehicles or giving CPR.”

Gwent Police confirmed they were called to the scene alongside other emergency services to reports of a man in difficulty in the water.

“At around 8.30pm on Monday June 16, we received a call that a man had got into difficulty in the water at Keepers Pond, Blaenavon Road, Govilon,” a force spokesperson said.

“Officers attended along with the Welsh Ambulance Service.”

“A 27-year-old man from the Abergavenny area was taken to hospital for treatment.”

Fire safety crews reportedly checked safety equipment weeks ago, including life buoys, which are located at both ends of the water.

The location is becoming something of a hotspot, as wild swimming becomes increasingly popular with people looking to get outdoors and look after their health.

But emergency services are reminding people that water, especially in natural environments, can be dangerous as it is difficult to see what lurks at the bottom of ponds and lakes, and the temperature can be icy cold.

The pond was built in the early 19th century to provide water for Garnddyrys Forge, which started production in about 1817.

The forge was dismantled during the 1860s and whilst the pond no longer fulfilled an industrial purpose, it rapidly became a local beauty spot, also acquiring the name Keeper’s Pond because the gamekeeper of the grouse moors lived in a cottage nearby.