Warning as drunk men spark river rescue
Durham policeA safety warning has been issued after an argument between two drunk men sparked a river rescue.
Durham Police urged people to remain vigilant around open water as temperatures continue to soar, after emergency services rescued a 50-year-old man from the River Wear in Durham on Sunday.
The force said he had entered the water during an altercation and firefighters used a raft to rescue him. He spent the night at the University Hospital of North Durham.
A 41-year-old man was arrested at the scene, near the Royal County Hotel, on suspicion of common assault and was later released without charge.
"While incidents like this may begin as social drinking, they can quickly escalate into life-threatening situations," a police spokesman said.
Temperatures are due to continue to rise, after the record for the hottest day in May was broken for two days in a row in the UK.
Durham Police said the "serious incident" served as a "stark reminder" of the risks associated with alcohol consumption near open water.
"Incidents of this nature place significant demand on emergency service resources, including specialist teams whose availability is critical," the spokesman added.
