/ 18 April 2006

Man dies trying to save girlfriend’s shoes

A drunk man drowned on Monday after jumping off the dockside into the river Ouse in northern England to rescue his girlfriend’s shoes, the coastguard said.

The 21-year-old, whose identity has not been released, dived into the water at Goole, East Yorkshire, at about 1am after he and his girlfriend had spent a night out drinking heavily.

The woman alerted police when he failed to re-emerge. Police launched a sea and air search, including using an infrared camera.

A team of police divers eventually recovered the man’s body at 4.40am.

Coastguard watch officer Mike Puplett said: “This is a very sad outcome, and once again it appears that alcohol has played a part in this young man’s demise. The message is very clear: alcohol and swimming or going into the water is a lethal combination.” — AFP