River rescue men receive recognition

FIVE men who formed part of a human chain to pull a suicidal 66-year-old woman to safety from the bitterly cold waters River Tay Estuary last September are to receive national lifesaving awards.

Four students, Andrew MacQueen, 21, Sam McLeod, 17, and 20-year-olds Jonathon Dickson and Billy McKerrow, from Dundee, have each been awarded Royal Humane Society Certificates of Commendation by the Royal Humane Society.

And taxi driver Chris Webster, 31, of Dundee, who was most at risk of falling into the swirling waters which were being whipped up by gale force winds and who, if he had fallen in could have been swept to his death on the out-going tide, has been awarded a Testimonial on Parchment by the Society.

In addition to the awards, the brave rescue team has also received the personal praise of the society's secretary, Dick Wilkinson.