York River Ouse safety concerns rise after student drowning and racegoer plunge

A 19‑year‑old University of York student, Evan Geoffrey d'Andilly, entered the River Ouse from Ouse Bridge on 5 March 2025 after an evening out. He called for help for about 20 minutes while police and fire crews arrived, but rescue equipment was insufficient and the volunteer‑run York Rescue Boat was not contacted promptly. D'Andilly vanished beneath the water before a rescue boat could reach him, and an inquest highlighted delays and inadequate reach‑lines.

Later, a racegoer jumped into the same river after a music showcase at York Racecourse. Volunteers from the York Rescue Boat arrived within seconds, and the man used a ladder on King’s Staith to pull himself out. Safety officials warned that such stunts can quickly become tragic, citing the earlier drowning, and urged the public to heed cold‑water shock risks and river conditions.

Both incidents have prompted calls for improved river‑safety measures and stricter enforcement of on‑spot fines for dangerous behaviour.