Half-naked suspect jumps into a bed of nettles, plunges into a river and tries to hide in a sewer pipe in attempt to run away from police

A man fleeing from a police 'sting' jumped into a bed of nettles, plunged half-naked into the fast-flowing River Severn. 

The suspect was one of two people targeted by West Mercia Police who failed to appear in court. 

The man attempted to escape from police by running into the river. 

A man wanted by West Mercia police jumped into the River Severn in a bid to avoid arrest 

The suspect was involved a 90-minute stand off with police in Worcester on Friday afternoon. Police said the man threatened officers with bricks and rocks while refusing to leave the river

One eye witness said: 'The man and a young woman he was with were arrested by two undercover police officers along the riverside path.

'He attempted to flee custody by diving topless through the stinging nettle infested river bank and hid in the undergrowth by the river.

'He even attempted to escape through a sewer pipe along the riverside at one point.

'He was using the large stick and a big rock to ward off the police who were trying to arrest him.

'His female associate fled the scene. I saw the whole thing. It was hilarious.'

A police spokesman said 'In an attempt to avoid arrest the male ran and jumped into the river.

'The male spent around an hour in the river, refusing to get out, where he threatened to assault officers by throwing bricks and rocks at them.

'With the assistance of Hereford and Worcester Fire Service the male was eventually removed from the river and was arrested.

'He was then presented to the courts.'

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said four crews attended - two from Worcester, one from Evesham, one from Malvern plus the Water First Responder team from Malvern and the service drone from Ledbury.

They were called at 11.22am to reports of someone needing rescuing from the River Severn running alongside the A44 in Worcester.

A spokesman said 'A man self-extricated from the river, assisted by fire service personnel, and was handed over to the police, who were also in attendance. There were no casualties and the incident was closed at 12.40pm.

'Cold water shock, which can affect you on even the warmest days, is indiscriminate and will affect all age groups. There are also other hazards such as hidden objects beneath the surface of the water, which you would not be able to see.

'Between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2020 there were 355 incidents of rescue or evacuation from water, excluding flooding, in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

'Sadly, there were 42 fatalities within this time period. Thirty-three people were taken to hospital with injuries appearing to be serious, 49 people were taken to hospital with injuries appearing to be slight, and 15 people were given first aid at the scene.

'Those aged 19 to 24 were most likely to be involved in this type of incident followed by those aged 30 to 39.' 

MailOnline has approached West Mercia police for an update on the case.