A video shows the moment an idiotic swimmer prompted a rescue mission after taking a rather dangerous dip
Rescue workers said the man appeared to be drunk
This is the moment an idiotic swimmer prompted a rescue mission after deciding to take a swim in the path of a 4,000 tonne cargo ship.
Rescuers are today issuing urgent safety warnings following the near miss in the River Blyth on Sunday afternoon, the Newcastle Chronicle reports.
Volunteers from Blyth RNLI were called out to help the man, who is believed to have been drunk, after he was spotted in the water close to the Karla C, a large cargo vessel.
But when they arrived the man told them he was swimming in the river because it was ‘cheaper’ than his local pool.
The alarm was raised shortly after 3pm by a person on the shore as well as a port employee who was involved in the berthing of the Karla C, which was being escorted by a local pilot vessel to Battleship Wharf in the Port of Blyth.
The ship, which had travelled over 2,800 miles from the port of Vilanova in Spain, was travelling at slow speed and less than one mile from completing her voyage when the incident occurred.
Volunteers from Blyth RNLI said there would have been very little the Karla C’s crew could have done to avoid the man within the confined space of the river.
Blyth’s inshore lifeboat with three volunteer crew on-board launched as concern grew over the safety of the person in the water and what might happen if they were left swimming in a working harbour.
Upon arrival the man, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, refused assistance from the lifeboat crew and stating: “I’m coming for a swim in here because its cheaper than the local pool.”
The swimmer was then advised that he should leave the water as there were other smaller boats working on the river who may not see him in time to avoid him. After a few minutes the man took this advice and made his own way to a set of ladders and climbed out.
Shortly afterwards he was spoken to by police and the local coastguard team.
Blyth RNLI Deputy Launching Authority (DLA) Paul Raine said: “Is it really worth risking your life going swimming in the cold water of a working harbour to save paying a few pounds to visit the local heated swimming pool?”’
This call came at the end of a busy week for the RNLI’s volunteer crew at Blyth who as well as attending six call-outs also organised and ran the stations annual quayside family funday raising over £5,000 to allow them to keep saving lives at sea.
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