A TEENAGE girl who went into the water after drinking alcohol sparked an air and sea search.

The incident has prompted a warning not to mix drinking and swimming.

The 16-year-old was reported missing by friends at 10.59pm, soon after she went into the water at Rockley Park in Hamworthy, Poole, on Friday night.

An RNLI spokesman said she had reportedly been “consuming alcohol” during the evening.

The inshore and all-weather lifeboat scoured the water, coastguard officers searched the shoreline, and the police helicopter was called out.

Rescuers eventually found the girl on the shore.

One witness told the Echo: “I saw a fisherman wade out and get her out of the water.

“She had almost passed out.”

Dorset Police said the girl, who was a Poole resident, was able to walk and that she was found conscious and breathing.

A Coastguard spokesman said: “The girl was located on the shore by members of the public, conscious.

“She was looked after by police until an ambulance crew arrived and was able to assess her condition.”

The girl did not need to go to hospital.

A Coastguard officer said: “It’s a very bad idea to drink and go swimming.”

According to drinkaware.co.uk, alcohol is present in between a third and two thirds of people who drown in swimming and boating accidents.