News / Drunk men spark emergency call out
LERWICK coastguard team was called out on Wednesday night to assist police in the search for two men seen entering the sea at Breiwick.
Alerted by a member of the public at about half past eleven, the men were described as severely intoxicated and one of them stripped down to the waist in the water, in the area between the Sletts and the South Road roundabout.
Coastguards were able to recover the man from the water when his companion suddenly disappeared.
At this stage Lerwick lifeboat was called out to carry out a coastline search as there were fears that he could also be in the water.
However, he was reported to have been found by police elsewhere in the town a short time later and the lifeboat stood down at a quarter to one.
A Shetland Coastguard spokesman said: “This was potentially a dangerous situation particularly when drink is involved.”
Police said on Thursday morning that one of the men was taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital for a checkup and later released.
Neither of the men is believed to be from Shetland.
A police spokesman said that it was not advisable to go into the freezing water, particularly when under the influence of alcohol.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
