Could he not have put it down closer to the shoreline making it easier for the passengers to swim to dry land?
Perhaps, but you would assume the deepest part of the river is in the middle. Wouldn't want to hit any hidden obscured or submerged objects and tear the bird apart now would we? One would think the risk of such an occurance would be amplified the closer one gets a sizable bird to shore.
Besides you're a pom, I would have thought you would be a fan of a brisk swim to wake you up in the morning?