Police arrest student for swimming in Ouse
A York student was arrested in the early hours of Thursday the 20th of April after he was found in a drunken state in the river Ouse.
The student, who cannot be named for welfare reasons, had to be pulled from the river by the Emergency Services following an alcohol-fuelled night in town with friends. He was given a health check and spent the night in police custody, but was let off with a fifty-pound fixed penalty notice for being drunk in a public highway.
The student became separated from his friends after leaving the Gallery at an unknown time “in a horrific state. The next thing I knew, I was floating in the River Ouse, wondering what on earth had happened. Due to my drunkenness, I wasn’t particularly worried – more bemused.”
He now suspects he either “accidentally staggered into the River when I was walking too close to the edge or I thought it would be clever to swim home.”
The student was spotted by “some good Samaritans” who called the Emergency Services. He was pulled out by the Fire Service with a ladder.
“I have to commend them on their help as it must be annoying to help drunks when they probably have more important matters to attend to. Although I laugh now, I was so drunk I probably could have easily died of hyperthermia had no one arrived to help me.”
PC Chris Pool of North Yorkshire Police agrees that the student was extremely fortunate not to have suffered more serious injuries.
“Nearly everyone who goes in the river has to be taken to hospital. The currents are very, very strong and there have been fatalities in recent years.”
The student said “I consider myself very lucky that my strong disposition helped me to avoid a stomach pumping.
“Let this be a lesson to all you binge drinkers out there. Whilst it may be fun to go out and get trollied, don’t go swimming in the Ouse because it will catch up with you.”
Swimming in the river is not a criminal offence and the student admitted that the fine “was more than acceptable considering my predicament.
