Police officers praised for saving drunk's life

THREE Inverness police officers who fought a life-and-death battle on the banks of the River Ness to save a drunk who had fallen into the water have been awarded top civilian life-saving honours.

PC Jason Hasson is to receive a Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Parchment and PCs Carla Hoxey and Doug Murray are each to receive the Society’s certificates of commendation.

The awards follow an incident on the afternoon of 6th October last year when the drunk climbed over a barrier near Black Bridge Inverness and slipped down the bank into the water.

The Northern Constabulary officers managed to prevent him being swept away to almost certain death by the fast flowing river and then PC Hasson went into the water up to his waist and with the help of the others managed to get the man back to the safety of the bank.

Yesterday the trio won the praise of the secretary of the Royal Humane Society, Dick Wilkinson, in addition to the awards they are to receive.

Speaking at the society’s London headquarters as he announced the award Mr Wilkinson said: "This man owes his life to these officers.

"But for their intervention he could well have been swept away in the fast flowing waters. They richly deserve the awards they are to receive."