An ''extremely intoxicated'' teenager was injured after falling on to rocks in a shallow Dunedin river on Saturday.
Willowbank Fire Station Officer Mark Townsend said a crew was called to the intersection of Castle and Brook Sts in North Dunedin after an 18-year-old man fell into the Water of Leith about 10.30pm.
The ''extremely intoxicated'' man was attempting to climb over a gate to access the Dunedin Botanic Garden when he lost his footing, slipped and fell in the river.
The water was ''knee deep''.
The man lost consciousness in the fall. Two friends dragged him from the water. He regained consciousness before emergency services arrived and was complaining about back pain but was able to move his arms and legs, Mr Townsend said.
A gate was cut open to allow the crew to carry the teenager from the river to an ambulance in a rescue basket.
St John spokesman Ian Henderson said the man was in a serious condition when he was taken by ambulance to the Dunedin Hospital emergency department.
