PCs Emma Taylor and Alec Robertson praised for
river rescue

TWO police officers are being praised as details are released of their dramatic rescue of a drowning man from a freezing cold Yorkshire Dales river.

At around 11.00pm on Friday 5 January, North Yorkshire Police received a call that a man was in the River Swale in Richmond.

PCs Emma Taylor based at Catterick Garrison and Alec Robertson from Leyburn were on the scene at the top of the waterfalls near Richmond Castle within a matter of minutes.

On arrival they could see a man lying fully submerged in the water, around a meter from the river's edge. Although on his back, his face was in the water and he was not responding.

Despite the darkness and unknown depth, both officers entered the freezing water and found the man cold, limp and unconscious. They pulled him out of the river and onto a nearby car park, where they covered him with a blanket and managed to revive him.

The man was lapsing in and out of consciousness but the officers kept him alert and warm until an ambulance arrived.

The 21-year-old man, who is believed to be local, was taken to the Friarage hospital in Northallerton where he is recovering.

Sergeant Neil North end of Richmond police said: "The events of Friday evening saw North Yorkshire's officers display first class police work, had they not responded as quickly as they did, we could have been dealing with the tragic death of a young man. The two officers undoubtedly saved the man's life".