A young man who got into difficulties in the water at Dunluce on the north coast after cliff diving, was saved by a PSNI officer.
Sergeant Gareth Lavery who is a trained lifeguard swam out against the current to rescue him. However the pair were so far out to sea that they both had to be rescue by the RNLI.
The incident happened yesterday evening at around 5.45pm (Tuesday).
Now police are warning of the dangers of cliff diving.
A crew from Coleraine PSNI station was tasked to the scene.
Speaking about the incident, Sergeant Gareth Lavery said when he arrived at the scene his instincts as a trained beach lifeguard immediately kicked in.
“I could see clearly that the young man was in distress and floundering in the strong currents. I assessed the scene and the risks involved and dived into the water.
“I swam out to him against the current and got hold of him and calmed him down. We were so far out to sea it was not possible or safe to try to bring him back to shore, which was quite a distance away. So I kept him afloat until my colleagues from RNLI arrived and got us both on board their craft,” he said.
The sergeant said when they were brought to shore the young man was met by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and taken to hospital.
Sergeant Lavery said with the summer holidays coming up, he is asking people to be cautious around the coastline.
“What may seem like a bit of fun can quickly turn into tragedy. Our waters can have hidden dangers, such as strong currents and rocks. The depth of the water can also have catastrophic consequences if it is shallow and you dive into it.
“Enjoy your time at the coast but please always be aware of the hidden dangers,” he added.
And he said he wanted to wish the young man a speedy recovery and to thank his colleagues in RNLI and NIAS.
Chief Inspector Ian Magee has praised the sergeant’s ‘selfless actions.’
“I am extremely proud of Gareth. His selfless actions are indicative of the calibre of officer we have serving in our district. Keeping people safe is at the core of policing and this is a prime example of this,” he said.
And he added: “If you see anyone in distress in the water please dial ‘999’ immediately and speak to the relevant emergency services and where possible give clear directions as to where they are. If there is a lifebelt or other buoyancy aid nearby throw it to the person in the water. You should then follow the instructions of the operator.
“I would also like to wish the young man involved in this incident a speedy recovery.”