River Wear rescue prompts safety message

A moment of poor judgement can have lasting consequences.

On Sunday afternoon, emergency services responded to a serious incident in Durham City involving two men believed to be intoxicated.

During an altercation, one of the men entered the water and quickly found himself in difficulty, while the other was unable to help.

Fortunately, concerned members of the public alerted emergency services. Police officers responded quickly and threw a safety ring to help keep the man afloat until further support arrived.

Specialist teams from the North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, including a HART team, attended alongside County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service. Fire crews deployed a raft into the river and safely recovered the man.

A 50-year-old man was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham for treatment after spending time in the water and was discharged the following morning.

A 41-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of common assault but was later released without charge.
While incidents like this may begin as social drinking, they can quickly escalate into life-threatening situations. This serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with alcohol consumption near open water. We will also take action where offences are identified, and arrests will be made.

We urge the public to remain vigilant around rivers and waterways. Incidents of this nature place significant demand on emergency service resources, including specialist teams whose availability is critical.

As temperatures are forecast to remain high this week, please take care near open water and speak with your children about the risks if they are out and about this half term.

In an emergency, do not hesitate to call 999.

Remember: Phone, Float, Throw to help someone in the water.