Warning: Alcohol and water don't mix

Tuesday 16 August 2016

Jersey’s Fire and Rescue Service are reminding Islanders not to go for a dip after a drink, and not to swim alone.

The warning comes after the service were called out to rescue two people in two separate incidents in the space of less than 24 hours.

In the first two onlookers spotted a swimmer in difficulty approximately 200 yards off Green Street slipway. They tried to rescue the woman but had to turn back for fear of getting into difficulty themselves.

Jersey Coastguard mobilised the Fire and Rescue Inshore Rescue boat  and at the same time two members of the Serco Havre Des Pas Lifeguard Team set out on their surf rescue boards.

The rescue boat attended the slipway eight minutes after the call by which time lifeguards Chris Rothery (who did the main rescue) supported by Scott Ward had reached the casualty and were helping her on to the rescue board.

The inshore rescue boat stood by at the shore whilst the casualty was paddled in. The 56-year-old visitor was checked over on the beach by members of the Normandy Rescue and Fire personnel and was lucky enough to only be suffering from exhaustion and the effects of a pre-swim bottle of wine.

Yesterday the concerned daughter of a holidaymaker alerted RNLI beach guards at St Brelade’s Bay after her father had not come back from an early morning swim.

Lifeguards took to the water in their inflatable rescue boat to search the bay. At the same time Jersey Coastguard mobilised the Fire and Rescue Inshore rescue boat to carry out a larger search of the coastal waters from Noirmont Point to Corbiere. Jersey Police also co-ordinated a shore based search with the help of the man’s family and he was eventually found at 11.30 safe and well at Le Braye on his bicycle.

The RNLI are reminding Islanders “you should never go in the water after drinking. Alcohol contributes to around one in eight coastal deaths in the UK and is a contributing factor in many more water related incidents. It can seriously impair your judgement, reactions and ability to swim. If you're going to drink, save it for after you've been swimming.”

Jersey Fire and Rescue is also advising people who are undertaking activities around Jersey’s coastline to always tell somebody where they are going, what they are doing and what time they expect to return. If something should happen and friend or family can alert the Coast Guard and direct them to where they are.