Save or let him drown?

TWO friends walking by Bristol harbour after a night out saw a man struggling in the water and dialled 999, but were told not to rescue him as it would breach health and safety rules.

They were told to await the fire service and not to attempt a rescue themselves, but seeing he was in desperate straits, the two, Liam Jempson and Josh Felvusy ignored the advice and rescued him, possibly saving his life, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Took the decision

It was when he disappeared under the water that they took the decision to rescue him as there was no sign of any rescue vehicle, with Liam later telling:

"I just couldn't watch this man die. It all happened quickly but I knew I had to do something. It's only afterwards that I realised it could have been dangerous going into the water. The water was freezing and I was in shock afterwards."

Woman scream

The pair were heading home at around 5.30am and were sitting on a bridge when they heard a woman scream that there was someone in the water, and so the pair rushed down and called the emergency services.

Josh told that it was obvious the man couldn't swim, and kept going under the water for longer and longer, and though he had been told to await a special fire brigade rescue team, and when the man went under again and all he saw was bubbles, they both jumped in, and by then an ambulance had arrived so a rope was tied around the man and he was pulled out alive.