A MAN who was trapped in bitterly cold water for more than 90 minutes says he is incredibly fortunate to be alive.

Daniel Scott became trapped in the River Ouse, in Lewes, after trying to go to the toilet in a nearby bush in November last year.

Emergency services said that he was “incredibly lucky” to have survived the incident.

Now, he has teamed up with the rescue services that saved him to warn others about the danger he faced.

Mr Scott became separated from his friends during a night out.

He then jumped over a fence near the river at 3am to go to the toilet but soon found himself submerged in water.

He said: “It was incredibly dangerous and I could easily have died.

“I hopped over the fence and suddenly I was in blackness.

“I took one more step and I felt my foot get wet, then my thighs.

“While trying to work my way out, I realised I was up to my neck.

“My face was then covered and I had no idea where the riverbank was.

“I thought ‘I’m in a really bad situation now’.”

Luckily for Mr Scott, a man heard him in distress and dialled 999.

The call sparked a major, multi-agency rescue and he was found alive after a police helicopter located a faint heat source.

By that time, Mr Scott had been in the water for more than 90 minutes and his body’s centigrade temperature was in the mid twenties.

Hypothermia occurs when body temperature dips below 35 C.

Paul Coppard, station manager at East Sussex Fire Rescue Service, led part of the rescue effort.

He said: “It started with Mr Scott taking one step too many and entering the water. It was the early hours of the morning and freezing cold and it’s a tidal river.

“Daniel was swept some considerable distance from where he entered the water so I consider him incredibly lucky to have survived.”

A video of Mr Scott’s story is being distributed by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in the hope of reducing accidental drownings in the UK.

You can watch the film at www.theargus.co.uk.

Dawn Whittaker, National Fire Chiefs Council lead for water safety said: “If it happens to you, shout and make yourself heard.

“Try not to panic and just think ‘float to live’.”

Float to Live is the slogan for the Respect the Water campaign. The advice is while you float, you can regain control of your breathing and your heart rate can begin to steady. If you find yourself in the water, relax and float for up to 90 seconds – the time it takes for cold water shock to disappear.