A witness has told how he called the coastguard after seeing a shirtless man jump in the River Medway – prompting a major rescue effort.

Andrew Grayland was walking to Rochester station when he became aware of three "extremely drunk" men – carrying crates of Fosters lager – on the Strood side of the bridge.

Two of them wandered off in the direction of the former civic centre site, but the bare chested one – who'd walked in front of a bus and screamed at the driver – climbed onto the side of the bridge before plummeting into the water.

Software engineer Andrew said: "When I saw what he'd done, as far as I was concerned he was a goner. I thought to myself 'he's gone, he's just killed himself."

However, when he went to check, the man was floating around 20 meters from the shore "bobbing around" on his back.

The 33-year-old, who estimates the jumper was in his late 20s or early 30s, added that some people threw a life ring to him.

But this didn't work as he was too far from land to reach and too intoxicated to react.

London commuter Andrew added the water was really flat at the time – last Wednesday morning – with no tidal current.

"By sheer luck, he'd probably timed it at the least dangerous moment," he added.

He called the Coastguard and gave them the details and several emergency service vehicles soon arrived on the scene.

The man was pulled out of the water and taken to hospital by paramedics.

Andrew is "pretty sure", the men concerned were the same trio accused of stopping a woman driver in nearby Commerical Road.

"By sheer luck, he'd probably timed it at the least dangerous moment."

As previously reported, Lou Smith was targeted in what she now believes was an 'accident scam'.

One of the men jumped on the bonnet of her black Chevrolet and pretended she'd hit him before he started to record her on his phone.

She said: "I was terrified, they blocked my car in the road and started walking towards me and so I locked my door.

"One of them threw himself on my vehicle and pretended I had hit him, he then started recording me.

"Then they were messing around with the front off my car and wheel before they walked to my door and tried getting in.

Footage from Lou Smith's car when she was stopped

"At this time, I was trying to reverse and get around them the whole time and I ended up driving around up onto the pavement."

The Gravesend resident caught part of the incident on her rear dashcam and posted it on social media.

Andrew saw this and says the timing of the two incidents match.

He added: "I am pretty sure it's the same people as in the video, especially the topless one."

Kent Police confirmed it is investigating the incident concerning Lou, but hadn't linked it to the river rescue when asked.

Anyone with information should call 01634 792209, quoting reference 46/118725/21 or anonymously to Crimestoppers in Kent by calling 0800 555 111.

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