The son of a woman pulled from Helston boating lake in the early hours of this morning has thanked the people who came to her aid.

Police now know the identity of the woman who was found in a distressed state in the water at Coronation Park.

Officers were called at around 4.30am after an urgent 999 call from a member of the public.

Two other people dragged the woman from the water and ran to fetch blankets in a bid to keep her warm while emergency services arrived.

She was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro in what police describe as "a severe condition" due to the effects of exposure.

She has remained there ever since and was not taken to Derriford Hospital as reported by the police earlier.

Police enquiries have continued throughout the day and officers have now managed to identify the woman and locate next of kin.

A police spokesperson said: “The woman who is local and in her seventies remains in Treliske Hospital, where she is still receiving care for severe hypothermia.

“Officers has spoken to her son who has asked that the thanks of the family is passed on to the public who have helped share the appeal today, and to the people who located her in the early hours of the morning."

However, it remains a mystery as to how the woman came to be in the water.

“Police enquiries into how she found herself in the water continue, and we would like to hear from anyone who was in the area last night or in the early hours of this morning that may be able to assist," added the police spokesperson.

Sonia Wood, who lives opposite the lake, was one of the people who called 999 after being woken by screaming.

She said:" At first I thought it was cats or something. It was a long, drawn out noise.

"I woke my partner and my son woke as well and we decided it sounded human."

As Sonia spoke to police she could see a couple making their way over to the lake and then start running to the water, with one of them jumping in.

"They had obviously seen this person and one of them had got in. They got her out and they carried her to the shelter there."

She have her son towels and a blanket to take over to the woman, who by this point was no longer making any noise and appeared unconscious.

"I'd just like to know who she is and if she's alright," added Sonia.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log number 65 for January 30.