Don’t drink and drown (From Milford Mercury)

Don’t drink and drown

11:40am Thursday 1st June 2006

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Don't Drink and Drown' is the message from Milford Haven Coastguard after five people had to be rescued twice from the River Cleddau on Saturday.

Three men and two young girls - believed to be under the influence of alcohol, were left struggling in the river, under the Cleddau Bridge in Burton for 45 minutes after their rigid inflatable capsized.

An Angle RNLI Inshore lifeboat, a Port Authority Pilot boat - the Skomer and a Dale Coastguard team were sent to the scene at 9.30pm, following a call from a member of the public.

The three men were found clinging to the upturned hull of an inflatable dinghy and were pulled out the water by a tug called the Sarah Gray.

The two girls were picked up by a dory and the men were then taken to that boat to join them.

A spokesperson for the Milford Haven Coastguard said: "The dory then made off in an erratic manner and speed up stream with the inflatable in tow."

At 10.30pm another call was received informing the Coastguard that the same boat had capsized and all six were in the water.

The group were rescued again and the helmsman of the dory, a Pembrokeshire man, was arrested.

He accepted a fixed penalty notice in relation to causing alarm, harassment, or distress to others.

The spokesperson added: "Alcohol appears to have had a significant influence on boat handling skills in this incident, and the persons in the water also appeared to have been drinking before falling off the inflatable.

"A potential terrible tragedy was averted by the quick thinking of the Sarah Gray and the efforts of the Coastguard and lifeboat teams.

"The message we wish to instil on our boating fraternity is by all means have fun and relax but please be aware that drink and the water don't mix and in some places it can be an offence to be in charge of a vessel whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol."

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