Police officers in Coleraine have been praised after their rescue of two kayakers from the River Bann in Northern Ireland earlier this week.
Dog walkers noticed the kayakers had gotten into difficulty in the river at around 6.20pm on Tuesday 9 January. They called 999 and multiple emergency and voluntary services were dispatched to the area.
PSNI officers were the first emergency responders on the scene and found the kayakers clinging to branches after being caught in an unexpectedly strong tide.
Two officers entered the cold water and, with the assistance of colleagues on the riverbank, were able to bring the men safely to waiting ambulances which took them to hospital for treatment.
Speaking to BBC News NI, Superintendent Mark Roberts said: “The change in the current was so strong, one of the kayaks was swept away, leaving a gentleman clinging to a tree and another one just standing in the water off the bank.”
Both kayakers were taken to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine for treatment after their ordeal.
Chief Inspector Vince Redmond commented: “I am delighted that these men were brought to safety, and that our officers showed such resourcefulness, skill and courage.
“Their work on Tuesday evening was the embodiment of ‘keeping people safe’ in our community.
“This was a fantastic example of collaborative working with our colleagues from Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the indispensable volunteers of Community Rescue Service. There’s no doubt in my mind that lives were saved as a result.”
