Wrap-up warning over girls’ river fall

Details of how the two unidentified girls had to be pulled out of the River Tyne and treated by paramedics appear on a log of incidents released to The Northern Echo by the North-East Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NEAS) as a warning to others.

The decision to release the details of 19 out of 50 incidents attended by NEAS ambulances during the cold snap in early December was taken to highlight the dangers of heavy drinking in low temperatures.

It followed a message from NHS North East this week urging Christmas and New Year partygoers to wrap up warm, drink responsibly and look after themselves to avoid the risk of hypothermia.

Unless someone with hypothermia is taken to hospital, it can be fatal.

Examples published by the ambulance service includes people found lying in the street, often in snow, and members of the public unable to get home after a night out drinking.

“In one case, two girls fell into the river at the Quayside, in Newcastle. Luckily, neither was serously hurt and they suffered no serious harm,” a spokeswoman for the NEAS said.

The spokeswoman said: “Although most people are sensible and wear warm clothing during the day, some are putting how they look ahead of staying safe in the evening.

“Consuming alcohol makes the body more vulnerable to the cold. We would advise anyone heading out during the party season to make sure they have a good meal first, and to take a warm jacket.

They should also make sure they know in advance how they are going to get home.”

Examples taken from the NEAS incident log early December (most incidents involved alcohol and most of the casualties were taken to hospital), include:

● A man near Chilton with suspected hypothermia;

● A man found asleep outside in Stockton;

● A young woman lying in the middle of the road in Seaham;

● A man lying in the road, unable to get up;

● A woman who had been drinking suffered an arm injury when she slipped and could not get up.