Man drowns after balcony plunge into River Ouse at York

North Yorkshire Police have been co-ordinating a search for the man’s body after he jumped into the water from the balcony which overlooks the River Ouse in York city centre.

The incident, which is not suspicious, happened at about 6.35am yesterday when the man leapt into the river from the balcony in Coney Street.

Witnesses saw the young man struggle in the water for a short time before he disappeared from view.

Another man attempted a rescue effort but he too got into difficulties and was lucky to clamber to safety, police said.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service has been using its boat to assist the search, while further specialist support to help recover the body has been provided by an underwater search unit from West Yorkshire Police.

The search would continue into the evening and resume this morning if necessary, a police spokesman added.

Insp Mark Henderson said: “People need to wake up to the fact that rivers in general are extremely dangerous and the Ouse itself is a particularly treacherous stretch of water.”