Police rescue drowning suspect who jumped into a river before realising he can’t swim

A wild foot-chase forced police into the deep end in the early hours of Saturday morning, with three officers helping pull a drowning man from the River Torrens.

The 22-year-old jumped into the waterway while allegedly trying to escape questioning after a brawl in Adelaide’s CBD, only to realise he couldn’t swim.

The Blair Athol man sparked a foot-chase from Hindley Street around 5am before patrols heard his cries for help.

The three officers jumped in and held the 22-year-oldvabove water until he could be pulled out.

The young man was left gasping for air on the banks of the Torrens before being transported to hospital, while the exhausted officers were assessed by paramedics on scene.

The quick-thinking actions of officers on the banks of the Torrens have been applauded by members of the public and politicians alike.

“They’ve jumped in the drink, they’ve jumped in the Torrens, they’ve done their job. It was a pretty [average] night last night,” former SA police minister, Joe Szacacs, said.

The incident began as police were interviewing the public about a separate Hindley Street brawl.

SA Police say the 22-year-old wasn't involved and are investigating why the man fled.