Sleeping man who fell into the Thames is rescued by lifeboat crew

 
Rescue: the man is met on the river bank by a lifeboat crew (Picture: RNLI)
Rachel Blundy19 August 2014

A man who lay down on a river wall for a late-night nap had to be rescued from the Thames after falling into the water - but somehow escaped without serious injuries.

The hapless victim was left stranded on the north bank of the river close to HMS President 1918 after the dramatic plunge.

A lifeboat crew was called to the scene near Blackfriars Bridge in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Helmsman Kevin Maynard from the RNLI's Tower station said the man had managed to pull himself out of the water on to land before they arrived.


He said: "We quickly located the man who told us he had laid down on the embankment wall and must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew, he was falling through the air."

He added: "We took him back to Tower lifeboat station, next to Waterloo bridge, where we handed him into the care of the London Ambulance Service."

In posts on its official Twitter account, Tower RNLI said: "Last night we were called to a man who had fallen into the river after having to much to drink, laying on the river wall & falling asleep.

"Thankfully we rescued the man and cared for him until Ldn_Ambulance arrived."

Lifeboat chiefs are warning people not to sleep on the river wall's following the incident.

Janet Kelly, Tower lifeboat station manager, said: "We would really urge people to take care in and around the River Thames. It can be enjoyed safely as long as people treat it with respect and I would certainly advise people not to fall asleep on the river wall."

Almost 400 people were saved, including inexperienced sailors rescued from boats and people who fell in from bridges and the foreshore.

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