Fire chief warning to revellers after Bristol Harbour rescues over Easter weekend

‘Go to a swimming pool instead’ - the message from firefighters who pulled out three more people from Bristol Harbour over Easter weekend.

Risk-takers jumping into the harbour’s seemingly peaceful waters has been an ongoing problem in the city for years, and something Avon Fire and Rescue expects will continue this summer despite repeated warnings.

On Saturday (April 16), firefighters rescued two people from the water including a 60-year-old man who was found clinging to a pontoon and ‘very lucky to be alive’, after falling from his canoe.

While accidents are bound to happen, Avon Fire and Rescue area manager Steve Quinton said that went someone ends up in Bristol harbour, it’s usually the case that they’ve jumped in of their own accord after a couple of drinks.

On Good Friday, an intoxicated man had to be fished out of the harbour by firefighters after jumping into the water naked.

While the incident raised a few laughs after being shared on Twitter by Bedminster Fire Station, it’s easy to forget that acts like this have all too often ended in tragedy.

In the two years leading up to June 2021, Avon Fire and Rescue dealt with more than 70 water-related incidents in Bristol, 26 of them resulting in serious injury or death.

Speaking to BristolWorld in light of the incidents over Easter weekend, Quinton said: "We would always encourage people not to jump in. First off, it uses up a lot of our resources.

"We have specially-trained water operatives who will rescue people in the water from our Bedminster and Bath stations, but as you can imagine this can really impact on cover we'd normally be providing in those areas.

"The water may look tempting, especially when the weather warms up, but the water is actually very, very cold.

“It's very easy to go into cold water shock, and while the harbour doesn't have currents, there are many hidden dangers.

"These include things lurking under the water that people might catch themselves on.”

Mr Quinton added that jumping in may have a knock-on effect, as friends or family members will often leap into the water if they see a loved one struggling.

"Unfortunately people will sometimes have too much to drink and dare their mates to go in,” he said.

"But someone may get into trouble, and someone jumps in after them.

"Then your life is at risk, their life is at risk - but people often forget that the firefighter who comes in after you is at risk too.

"While our firefighters are trained, they'd really rather not go into the water unless they have to.”

There have been calls for railings to be installed around the harbour to tackle the issue in the past, but Mr Quinton isn’t convinced it would make much of a difference.

"We would always support any safety initiative,” he said. “But in my experience, people who are set on jumping in the water are going to find a way to do it anyway, railings or not.

“We appreciate railings haven't been installed in order to preserve the natural look of the Bristol's historic docks.

“The docks are there to be enjoyed, please do so. But look out for your friends. Please don’t jump in. Go to a swimming pool.”