A YOUNG man is lucky to be alive after he was spotted in the river Medway clinging to the base of Rochester Bridge.

The man, understood to be in his late teens, was seen by passers-by at about 6.40am on Monday.

Members of the emergency services, including police and the Coastguard, were called to the Strood-bound side of the bridge after a number of 999 calls.

Luckily the man was only waist deep in water as the tide was out. A rescue boat was quickly launched and he was pulled out of the water.

A spokesman for Medway Police said: “The man was rescued from the water at 7am in a semi-conscious state.

“He was taken to hospital where he regained full consciousness. His condition is not believed to be life threatening.”