Man pulled from city river after drunkenly jumping in

The rescue on Saturday came days after a summit on how to stop revellers in the city from falling into its rivers after the deaths of two young people in the space of a month.

Police were called to the stretch of the river near Lendal Bridge at about 6.20pm after a member of the public saw the man leap into the water and start swimming downstream.

Officers who were in the area at the time were equipped with throwlines which helped the man get to the riverbank, due to a lack of exits from the water.

He is not thought to have got into difficulties, but was drunk and taken to hospital as a precautionary measure before being arrested by police.

North Yorkshire Police tweeted on Saturday night: “Officers have rescued a male that jumped from Lendal Bridge York into River Ouse, quick response with throwline and he’s safe.”

The issue of river safety in York has been in the spotlight since the deaths of Wetherby student Megan Roberts, 20, and 22-year Ben Clarkson, originally from Leeds, both of whom are thought to have fallen in rivers on nights out in the city.

Ideas put forward at a river safety summit held in the city on Tuesday included city-wide training for door staff, taxi drivers, police and ‘street angels’ volunteers on how to deal with vulnerable people and greater engagement with students.

Crime commissioner Julia Mulligan says there have been at least 25 deaths in York’s rivers in the last 15 years.