AVON Fire and Rescue Service demonstrated their water rescue procedure at a nightclub in Bristol on Monday to highlight the perils of the water when intoxicated.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) held their replicated water rescue at Motion Nightclub, in Bristol, which began with a fire in the cloakroom.

The mock-up was then moved outside to the Feeder Canal where the team demonstrated their rescue methods to highlight how alcohol can affect people if they enter the water.

It showed that even the strongest swimmer can be affected by the effects of alcohol if they end up in water.

Station Manager Andy Goode said: “This exercise was an opportunity to demonstrate how firefighters would tackle a fire within the nightclub and a simulated water rescue.

“There have been a number of occasions where people enjoying nights out have needed to be rescued or even lost their lives in the waterways in our area.

“We want people to enjoy their night out safely and to take extra care when drinking alcohol near the water. The last place you would want to end up is in the river as the water is particularly cold.

“The low temperatures mean that even extremely strong swimmers will quickly find themselves in real difficulty.”

AF&RS were called to 54 water rescues in the Avon area in the last year from January to December, 2016.

Their advice if you see someone in trouble in the water is as follows:

• Think, do not put yourself in danger. Do not enter the water or jump in. • Shout for help, ring 999 and request the Fire and Rescue Service.

• Reach, if it’s safe to do so, try and reach the person with a stick or a pole or any other object that will keep you out of danger. Crouch or lie down to avoid being pulled into the water.

• Throw designated rescue equipment or rope if available to pull the person to the bank. Otherwise throw in something that will float this will help keep the person buoyant until assistance arrives.