This is the unfortunate moment a man distracted by his mobile phone walks straight into a canal after mistaking scattered leaves for a footpath.
CCTV footage taken from a pub in Nottingham caught the man engrossed in his phone as he walked along the path at 11.30am on November 14.
The man can be seen veering towards his left, where he assumes a footpath will be.
But, instead, he walks straight into a canal after being distracted by his phone.
Fortunately, two people nearby rushed to his rescue and pulled him out.
Family left homeless after Christmas tree caught fire and destroyed house as they slept
Annmarie Gardener, the landlady at the pub, has now shared the footage in a bid to warn people of the dangers of walking close to the canal while distracted.
Advertisement
Advertisement
She said: It is not usually a problem – most people know it is a canal. When you watch it he thought because the leaves were on it the canal disappeared and became a path.
He was on his phone. We do put warnings out in the pub and tell people to be careful. I think we have had one other person who slipped on the edge but he came back out.
When the leaves are in there it can be dangerous. It does worry me and we would like to warn others. It is also deep.
The Canal and River Trust is warning people to be aware of the dangers lurking around canals during the Christmas period.
A spokesman said: Were obviously pleased that this incident had a happy, if soggy, ending, but it could have been a lot more serious and wed definitely urge people to keep their wits about them when theyre on the towpath.
While this kind of incident is unusual we are this week supporting the Dont Drink and Drown campaign which encourages people to stay safe during the Christmas party season.
Our advice at this time of year is to definitely pay a visit to your local canal or river as theyre great places to stay fit, de-stress and relax, but to take extra care.
Towpaths can be wet or icy increasing the risk of slipping, tripping or falling into freezing water so stay away from the edge and be careful where you tread.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Di Steer, CEO of the Royal Life Saving Society UK, said: People tragically die each year because theyve entered the water with alcohol in their bloodstream, either deliberately or completely by accident.
Drinking near or in water can be a dangerous and deadly cocktail. Alcohol can seriously impede your ability to survive in water.
When walking home from a night out, avoid routes that are alongside water, particularly in the darkness, and always stay with and look out for your friends.
Advertisement
Advertisement
[contf]
[contfnew]
METRO
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]