Homeless man 'mugged then thrown into river to drown'

River Clyde: Man accused of attempted murder.

A homeless man was attacked by muggers who threw him from a bridge into the River Clyde to drown, a court has heard.

Non-swimmer George Thomson, 24, was close to death after being pulled from the freezing water and taken to hospital.

Gregg McKissock, 30, is accused of attempting to murder Mr Thomson on the Tradeston to Broomielaw bridge in January.

The court heard how he was grabbed on Glasgow's 'Squiggly Bridge' by men he had just met then "tossed into the Clyde".

Mr Thomson had severe hypothermia, with his body temperature at just 28C compared to the normal level of 37C.

Richard Stevenson, a casualty doctor at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, told the court: "His life was in danger. It took quite a few hours to raise his body temperature.

"The outside temperature was freezing cold and he was at risk of imminent death."

Mr Thomson's blood acid levels were twice the safe level and his heart was in fibrillation, the High Court at Kilmarnock heard.

While acting with another, he allegedly rifled through his victim's pockets with intent to steal money, twice lifted him from the ground and on the second attempt dropped him over the safety barrier into the Clyde, to his severe injury and danger of life.

McKissock, a prisoner in Barlinnie, denies the charge.

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