Being able to swim loops along the 1.5-mile span between the pier, bordered by the iconic Coney Island Parachute Jump to the west and the beginning of the Esplanade to the east, means swimmers can make a quick exit from the water if necessary.
Police said the 24-year-old had travelled on the 2117 GMT train from Bickley to Penge East, crossed the footbridge over the railway to the Newlands Park exit en route to meet his friend.
Of course, when that happens may depend on the legal showdown between West Virginia and the Big East Conference centering around how long the Mountaineers must wait before they exit for the Big 12.
The Big East's stash of cash has built up in recent years through a combination of exit fees, entry fees and money the league's members earned in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.