More on KentOnline
by Keyan Milanian
A man jumped into the River Medway for a dare.
The 38-year-old jumped into the water at the Civic Centre in Strood just before 3.30pm on Wednesday, August 19.
According to police who interviewed him after the incident he was dared by friends to jump from Rochester Bridge.
They did not press charges as he had not committed a criminal offence.
Instead he was given a "severe warning".
Medway Coastguards were called.
They 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 at Gas House Point, at the end of Gas House Road, 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, so it is not advisable to swim in the Medway.
“You can get stuck in the mud or dragged under by the current so this could have been far worse than it was.”