Man arrested after dramatic Boat Race

The Boat Race is halted
7 April 2012

The Boat Race was brought to a dramatic halt on Saturday after a protester swam into the path of the Oxford and Cambridge crews and narrowly avoided being struck by a blade.

A man in a wetsuit was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence after being pulled from the River Thames and taken away on a police launch. Sources named the swimmer as Trenton Oldfield.

The race was restarted half an hour later but the unprecedented incident triggered a dramatic chain of events which led to a hollow Cambridge victory.

A clash of oars shortly after the restart led to Oxford's six man Dr Hanno Wienhausen suffering a snapped blade. Inevitably, Cambridge pulled clear.

Race umpire John Garrett had warned Oxford before the clash of oars and dismissed an appeal from cox Zoe de Toledo for the race to be re-run.

Oxford's bowman Dr Alexander Woods collapsed in the boat after the finish line and was taken to Charing Cross Hospital where his condition is described as stable. He will be monitored overnight.

Dark Blues coach Sean Bowden said Woods had "pushed himself beyond his limits" due to "desperation" at only having six crew-mates left.

Woods, who was taken to Charing Cross Hospital, was said to be in a stable condition.

A statement on the Boat Race Company Limited (BRCL) website said: "BRCL can confirm that Alex Woods is in a stable condition. He will continue to be monitored by hospital staff.

"At this time, BRCL's concern is for Alex's well-being. Alex's family are with him and he is receiving the best possible medical care."

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