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First responders are calling a keen-eyed jogger a hero after a daring early-morning rescue from the Glenmore Reservoir on Tuesday.

A little after 7 a.m., Margaret Bell was enjoying a sunny morning in North Glenmore Park when she spotted what appeared to be an empty boat near the western end of the reservoir.

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Approaching the water for a better look, Bell quickly realized what she thought was a beaver floating near the boat was actually a person.

“(He) was floundering in the water. Going under and coming up. So I just said, oh wow. I better go,” Bell said.

“I took my shoes off and my Fitbit and I just went in.”

As she swam out in the cold water towards him, she watched as he would disappear beneath the surface for moments at a time.

“I just prayed he was going to come up,” she said.

Photo by Darren Makowichuk / DARREN MAKOWICHUK/Postmedia

Bell tossed her fleece to him, instructing the man to hold on while she towed him to shore.

After dragging the semi-conscious man out of the water, Bell scrambled up a hill to a nearby path and flagged down a passing cyclist to call 911.