Police rescued three LMH students from the river near Park End Street last Thursday night, after they had apparently decided to go skinny dipping in the river.The police arrived at Castle Mill Stream, by the Worcester Street car park, soon after midnight on Thursday night to find Tom Wherry, Joe Wellington, and Ryan McCrickerd struggling with the strong currents. They immediately threw emergency life rings to the students.While Wherry and McCrickerd grabbed hold of the life rings and were pulled to safety, Wellington initially refused to be rescued and started swimming away. He was swept about 300m along the river under two bridges and into a weir, where he was pulled out by the police. Having been brought to safety, the three were promptly arrested and each given an £80 fixed penalty notice.They were transported by the police back to LMH, despite the fact that Wherry does not live in college. There they faced a 3am tribunal of the Principal, Dean and Treasurer, who had been alerted to the incident by the police.PC Paul Phillips, of Oxford police station, said: “They were naked and must have thought it would be funny go swimming, but hadn’t realised the dangers and the strength of the water.“[Joe Wellington] luckily managed to come through the weir with only minor injuries but there was a strong chance that he could have been killed. Fast flowing water can be powerful enough to knock you over and just two feet of water can float a car”. He added that the men had been arrested and all three had received fixed penalty notices. “This was a small price to pay when their actions could have cost them their lives.”
“Once the students were in the patrol car, they sobered up pretty quickly and became quite apologetic,” he added.
Professor Christopher Shields, Dean of LMH, has been given the task of disciplining the students. He told The Oxford Mail, “The students are duly contrite and reflecting upon their actions and I want them to do something appropriate to address their indiscretion.” He said that the College treated the matter with the utmost seriousness and he would be encouraging them to carry out some form of community service. He added, “I have no doubt they will comply.“I think it would be appropriate if they helped the Council with preparing flood defences and I am discussing the matter with the authorities at the moment.”A spokesman from Oxford University said, “We need to ensure that the message about the dangers of jumping into rivers or streams is taken seriously by all the students. However, students at Oxford University have a responsibility to behave in an appropriate manner so as not to endanger themselves or others.”It appears that the students’ evening began at the Bridge, on Hythe Bridge Street. One friend, who was with them during the earlier part of the evening, said: “Tom was ejected from the Bridge for being too drunk and throwing up. As far as I know Joe was in the queue and didn’t get in, and I don’t know where Ryan came from, although I would assume from the Bridge.“They decided to go skinny dipping in the river, and left their clothes by the side. Apparently their clothes were taken – possibly by girls.“They have had a very stern talk from the Principal,” he added.Another friend said, “I think their actions were just a result of drunken btehaviour – they are fun guys who enjoy a laugh and maybe it just went too far this time.”The Oxford Mail, however, disagreed, branding them “idiots” on its front page. The message boards on oxfordmail.net were inundated with messages attacking the students for their thoughtless behaviour.One reader wrote, “They should have let them drown.” Others see the LMH students as typical of the “unbearable toffs” who go to Oxford University. Another person mocked the stereotype of an Oxford student, saying, “Jumping into rivers is the modus operandi of Oxford Uni students (see May Day for reference). They may be generally worthless to society, but the University welcomes their fees all the same.”
by Jack Farchy
Community service for drunk skinny dippers
