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| Matthew Pinsent: 'Boat race swimmer could have died' | Matthew Pinsent: 'Boat race swimmer could have died' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A protester who disrupted the University Boat Race by swimming into the Thames could have been killed, according to Sir Matthew Pinsent. | A protester who disrupted the University Boat Race by swimming into the Thames could have been killed, according to Sir Matthew Pinsent. |
| Four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Matthew, who was assistant umpire of the race, made a statement to police after the incident, a court has heard. | Four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Matthew, who was assistant umpire of the race, made a statement to police after the incident, a court has heard. |
| Trenton Oldfield, who admits swimming into the path of the crews in April, is on trial at Isleworth Crown Court. | Trenton Oldfield, who admits swimming into the path of the crews in April, is on trial at Isleworth Crown Court. |
| The 36-year-old, from east London, denies causing a public nuisance. | The 36-year-old, from east London, denies causing a public nuisance. |
| The court heard that Sir Matthew was immediately behind the university crews on a launch with umpire John Garrett. | The court heard that Sir Matthew was immediately behind the university crews on a launch with umpire John Garrett. |
| Behind them were another 25 motorised boats with officials, police, sponsors and camera crews. | Behind them were another 25 motorised boats with officials, police, sponsors and camera crews. |
| Sir Matthew's statement, read by prosecution barrister Louis Mably, said: "If he had been hit by an oar or boat he could have cracked his skull, his neck, fallen unconscious and drowned." | |
| Swimmer caused 'alarm' | |
| The court heard the veteran rower spotted what he believed was a balloon about halfway through the race and he informed Mr Garrett. | |
| It was only when they got closer Sir Matthew said he was "alarmed" to realise that it was a person and "worried about the safety of the swimmer". | |
| Sir Matthew's statement said: "The risk for the swimmer was great, he could have been killed if he had been struck by an oar or the rigging which is metal. | |
| "The incident caused me alarm as one of my primary roles is the safety of the competitors and public at large." | |
| Mr Mably said the man swam into the path of the two eight-man teams close to Chiswick Eyot as the competition heated up. | |
| "By this time both crews were rowing flat out and were neck and neck. | |
| "The race came to an unexpected and sudden halt, all in front of the tens of thousands of people at the side of the river who wanted to watch the race," he added. | |
| The real risk to the swimmer led the umpire to halt the race. | |
| Mr Mably said: "What Mr Oldfield had done was in effect to force someone else to take responsibility to stop him from serious injury. | |
| "One person decided for his own reasons to disrupt a national sporting event and in the process the enjoyment of the spectating public." | |
| The incident caused mental and physical stress to the participants who had to then reposition their vessels and begin the race again. | |
| The footage of the race, which was eventually won by Cambridge, was shown to the jury. | |
| The prosecutor asked the jury to decide whether the incident was not a public nuisance, or "if the enjoyment of the public is at the mercy of any crank, oddball or self-righteous protester who decides that their views were more important than anybody else's." | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |