I'm guessing you didn't succumb to the cold water shock, the hidden rocks and proper dodgy undercurrents the Tees has?
It's amazing how many people still to this day underestimate water. For some wood ffs. They were after a piece of drift wood for an art project
Don't we all know someone who died from drowning in the river when we were kids? Mousy, drowned in the river at Newfield.
I nearly drowned in a swimming pool when I was 7... Was in a rubber ring arms behind my head and legs over the other side.. I remember one kid jumped on me and then loads joined in, me head went under my arms were behind my head stuck and my legs were stuck pointed upwards at the other end..... I can still remember the feeling.. The feeling of I'm going to die and its the frustration of not being able to scream or shout.. Just hoped hearing kids having fun and realising nobody knows I'm Going to die....... Then I saw a stick appear.. The teacher had seen otherwise I would've been history