TWO men were arrested after stripping off and trying to swim the river Ouse in York city centre.

The pair, thought to be in their 20s, went into the water at at King's Staithe at around 8pm.

Volunteers on York Rescue Boat river patrol were soon at the scene along with police.

The rescue boat team's Dave Benson said his team had spotted the two men stripping off, and seen police officers arrive to warn them against getting into the water.

But after the officers left the pair jumped in the water, and the crew watched from nearby as they swam into deeper and colder water.

The rescue volunteers had been on standby as one appeared to get into difficulties, but both men got themselves safely back to the riverbank, he added.

 

 

Staff in North Yorkshire Police's control room branded the pair fools for their actions, saying on Twitter.

"Hot weather has brought the foolish to #York. @yorkrescueboat & police dealing with multiple males in the #Ouse. Could have ended badly."

 

Mr Benson added: "We got some abuse off the men in the river, and another person, but I put one of our crew members on the bank and he heard a lot of drinkers telling police there were pleased to see us there when they were trying to enjoy an evening out."

He warned other people enjoying the summer weather against getting in the river, which is much more dangerous than it looks.

"We can see from our boat that the water is 20C. That's still very cold and you couldn't spend much time in there without starting to suffer. Especially when drunk, the cold will sap your energy."

Earlier in the evening, the rescue boat crew had stopped a group of men who had got onto the Fire and Rescue Service's boat moored near King's Staithe.

Police said the two men were arrested on suspicion on being drunk and disorderly, but released on the scene and given notices to leave the city.