'I was only taking a paddle' drunken beach reveller tells police

A DRUNKEN beach party reveller who told police he was "only taking a paddle" sparked a major late-night rescue operation.

The man was part of a group of people on the beach near Swansea's Civic Centre when he got into trouble in the water just before 1am today.

Mumbles Inshore Lifeboat and Coastguard rescue team and an RAF helicopter were scrambled — though police fished him out before the helicopter was launched.

The incident was one of six call-outs for the Mumbles lifeboat in a busy 24-hour period.

Bernie Kemble, from Swansea Coastguard, said going into the sea after consuming alcohol was a recipe for disaster. He said: "The message is simple — drinking and swimming do not mix."