A Chelmsford firefighter rescued a man with a bottle of rum in his hand and his dog from the River Can on Tuesday afternoon.
Sub-Officer Gary Bishop dived into the town centre river after the fire service was called by anxious members of the public.
The man drunkenly protested he did not need help despite having gone under water several times.
He had paddled a seaside type inflatable dinghy on the river but the craft began to deflate.
The man was seen by paramedics and then taken home to the Meadgate area of town by police. Essex Police said there will be no further action.
Published Thursday June 17, 2004
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