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From The Times
February 9, 2008

Man survives 100ft fall after drunken row

Simon de Bruxelles

A man who threatened to jump off a bridge then changed his mind while hanging on by his fingertips was recovering after falling more than 100ft.

The 18-year-old had threatened to jump from the bridge near Bideford, Devon, after a drunken row with his girlfriend at about 3am on Friday.

Police were called and tried to calm him down as he hung on to the bridge. He agreed not to jump but lost his grip and fell on to mudflats beside the tidal stretch of the River Torridge.

He was rescued by a crew from Appledore Royal National Lifeboat Association. Police, firefighters, coastguards, two lifeboats and a helicopter from the Royal Marines base at Chivenor were involved in the incident. Martin Cox, the Appledore lifeboat coxswain, said: “By the time the ILB [inshore lifeboat] found him he had been taken upstream by the tide. He was holding on to a yacht.”

A spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: “Nobody could believe he wasn’t seriously injured. He was very lucky indeed.” He was treated at North Devon District Hospital for shock and mild hypothermia and discharged later.

who is paying for such over kill using Appledore Royal National Lifeboat Association. Police, firefighters, coastguards, two lifeboats and a helicopter from the Royal Marines base at Chivenor ???? maybe he should pay when he ahs a job

rick, Piddleton, England

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