Male rescued from the river

Colleagues and I have just dealt with a young man who chose to enter the river from the balcony area at the rear of Coney Street in York City centre.

At a little before midnight this evening to the horror of doorstaff the youth ran across the balcony outside a bar and climbed over the railings to drop into the river below. Police, ambulance and river rescue were dispatched immediately and thankfully, he managed to make it across the river. By a stroke of luck he found the one small gap on the North Street side, that gives access from the river to accessible land and was brought out. 

Having been thoroughly checked and once it was established that he was medically fit, the young man was dealt with by police and as part of this, he will be referred to the volunteers of York River Rescue for some education.

We are thankful to see this young man manage to walk away from what is undoubtedly, a catastrophic lapse in judgement. We remain ever mindful and respectful of the families of those who have been tragically lost to the river.

We ask that, please, as a community, let's take every opportunity to remind our children, our visitors our student population and anyone who may not know the area, just how dangerous the river is.