The man jumped into the water at the Civic Centre at Strood and floated under Rochester Bridge

by Keyan Milanian

"My friends dared me to." That's what a 38-year-old man told police after jumping into the dangerous River Medway.

He leapt into the water at the Civic Centre in Strood just before 3.30pm Wednesday.

According to police who interviewed him after the incident, he was goaded by his friends to jump from Rochester Bridge. They did not press charges as he had not committed a criminal offence - but he was given a "severe warning".

Medway Coastguards were told by witnesses the man had jumped and floated under the Rochester Bridge.

Richard Rodgers, deputy station officer at Medway Coastguard, said: "By the time we found him he was...covered in mud and cold. We don’t know how he got out.

"He refused medical attention and received a severe warning from the police after they had decided not to section him."

He told police he jumped into the water for fun. It is believed a friend - who ran away before police arrived - called the emergency services.

Mr Rodgers added: "The Medway is a tidal river and there are some strong currents. You can get stuck in the mud or dragged under so this could have been far worse than it was."