Drunken swimmers rescued from sea

The men had been drinking at a nearby campsite

Two drunken campers had to be rescued from the sea after going for an early morning swim at Gower on Saturday.

One of the men in their mid 20s managed to raise the alarm after the other fell unconscious at Three Cliffs Bay.

After the rescue, Swansea coastguard issued a warning about the dangers of swimming while drunk.

Watch manager Helen Hutson said: "We were able to locate their position through the mobile call that was made and fortunately they were rescued."

Coastguards, who were called out at 0610 BST, said both men were "intoxicated" and started to develop hypothermia after going swimming in their clothes.

'Relatively remote'

The men, aged 23 and 26, were taken to Singleton Hospital in Swansea by ambulance to be treated for hypothermia.

The Mumbles and Oxwich coastguard rescue team was involved in the rescue. Ms Hutson added: "If they had been unable to raise the alarm, they would probably not have been sighted for some time as it is a relatively remote area, and evacuation of the two men was difficult."

She said they had a strong 'Don't Drink and Drown' message, saying that excessive alcohol impaired judgement and reaction times which can lead to tragic and often fatal accidents.