Northern Ont. police forced into the river to save intoxicated swimmer

Because of how cold the water was, the danger of entering Lake Huron (pictured) and how intoxicated the man was, police were forced to enter the water and bring him to shore. (File)

An intoxicated man wearing only underwear and a lifejacket had to be pulled from the Thessalon River early Wednesday evening.

Ontario Provincial Police responded around 6 p.m. to a disturbance call near Algoma Street West in Thessalon.

“An intoxicated male swimming in the Thessalon River wearing only a camouflage lifejacket and underwear,” the OPP said in a news release Thursday.

“The intoxicated male refused to exit the extremely cold water and continued yelling obscenities.”

Because of how cold the water was, the danger of entering Lake Huron and how intoxicated the man was, police were forced to enter the water and bring him to shore.

“The male refused to cooperate with police and officers had to enter the water to pull him to safety,” the release said.

The suspect, age 55, is charged with public intoxication and obstructing police.

The accused is scheduled to attend the Ontario Court of Justice Bail Court in Elliot Lake on June 6.

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