THE founder of a river safety charity in York has said the inquest into an 18-year-old soldier's death highlighted what needed to be done in the city.

Dave Benson started the York Rescue Boat charity over a year ago, which is staffed by volunteers who will patrol the Ouse on busy nights and join awareness campaigns to help prevent further deaths in York's rivers.

Mr Benson was speaking following the inquest into the death of Signaller Tyler Pearson - who died last year after fellow soldiers encouraged him to get into the Ouse and try to swim across, despite knowing how dangerous it was.

As reported in The Press, the inquest heard evidence from police officers who said Signaller Pearson's fellow soldiers failed to grasp the severity of the situation, and Mr Benson said he was shocked by what had happened.

He said: "It's shocking. It highlights the need for a sustained awareness campaign by local departments and the need for drinking responsibly, urging people to get home safely and the risk of the river can pose.

"It also highlights the need for people to be more individually responsible for their own actions, but also for caring for others in their group. People need to look after themselves and each other."

Mr Benson praised the work of City of York Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner, The Press' Take Care campaign, and both of York's universities in tackling drinking culture and river safety in the city, and said many of the serious incidents on the water featured alcohol consumption as a factor.

He said: "I think it's just society in general there's no individual to blame. People consume the alcohol, pubs and shops sell the alcohol, the Government sets the price for drink, so it's a cultural thing that needs dealing with.

"It was good to see the coroner and police speak out about Tyler Pearson being let down. Obviously, there are no convictions being suggested but it gives a stark warning to anyone else out there."

Mr Benson is a former doorman who has previously helped rescue people from the Ouse, and said the issue was serious but trends were changing.

He said: "I have never really witnessed lads leaving each other to walk home alone but I have seen women walking round with no shoes on by themselves more and more.

"I think it can be tackled locally by campaigns, reminding people to get home safe and what not to do near the river. Keeping it out there is the key."

The Press launched its Take Care campaign in the aftermath of the river tragedies last year and university students and North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan are also working to raise awareness.