A LIFEBOAT crew was scrambled to help a swimmer who got into difficulties in the River Colne near Colchester.
But the man - believed to be the same individual who got into trouble in the identical stretch of water near Rowhedge last Wednesday - eventually made it to shore safely himself.
The drama unfolded around 4.30pm today and was called into Walton coastguard by one of its off-duty staff members.
A spokesman for Walton coastguard said: “The man eventually came to shore and was taken to a mental health unit by police.
“We believe it was the same person that was involved in an incident last Wednesday morning, which also required the lifeguard.”
Later, around 5pm, coastguards help rescue another man, who had fallen and injured his ankle while fishing on the shore near Clacton Golf Club. They located and directed the ambulance service to the individual, who suffered a suspected fractured ankle.
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