There's no metaphor in that headline, it's all true. Pete Doherty was rescued from a sinking rowing boat on Loch Lomond shortly after his performance at Live @ Loch Lomond Festival at the weekend.
Doherty's manager, Adrian Hunter said: "We lost an oar and sprang a leak". He then added, somewhat unnecessarily: "It was freezing and we had a laugh, but it would not have been funny if someone died".