Man rescues boy from icy sea

A man hailed as a hero after he plunged into icy waters to rescue a schoolboy who had been swept out to sea described his actions as "no big deal".

Alastair Farquharson was walking along Aberdeen beach promenade when he saw a freak wave hit Ryan Smith, 12.

The child had been playing with a group of friends on a wall opposite the Inversnecky Cafe when he fell.

Mr Farquharson said: "I'm no hero. You just hope somebody would do the same for your own."

The incident happened on Saturday at about 1500 GMT.

Grampian Police said Ryan's 14-year-old friend fell into the water at the same time but managed to climb to safety.

However, Ryan was carried 30ft out to sea by the swell.

Mr Farquharson, 53, said: "My partner Jo noticed a couple of lads on the sea wall and the next thing a wave came up and swept them into the water.

There is nothing we can say to him except - thank you - if it was not for Alastair then Ryan would not be here. Michelle Smith Ryan's mother

"I threw my jacket off, grabbed the lifebelt and slid down the wall."

Mr Farquharson, who lives in Blackburn, outside Aberdeen, added: "When I got to him he was very quiet and I think the cold was getting to him.

"It was bloody freezing but I have quite a lot of diving experience so I knew what to expect.

"He is a lucky lad."

The Kvaerner operations manager revealed he had only been in the area as he had missed a film at a nearby cinema and was passing time before the start of the next movie.

But he modestly played down his actions.

Mr Farquharson said: "I didn't think about it I just jumped in and got the boy out.

'Remarkable courage'

"It was no big deal."

Ryan was taken to the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital and later discharged.

His mother Michelle and Grampian Police praised Mr Farquharson for his bravery.

Speaking from her home in Bucksburn, Aberdeen, Mrs Smith said: "There is nothing we can say to him except - thank you.

"If it was not for Alastair then Ryan would not be here.

"He is a very, very lucky boy."

Mrs Smith said Ryan had been at the cinema and then went for a pizza with his friends prior to the incident.

A police spokesman said: "At the time of the incident it was high tide, a high sea swell was running and the air and sea temperatures were very cold.

"The man who carried out the rescue displayed a quick presence of mind in obtaining a life belt, and remarkable courage in entering what was an inhospitable sea state.

"He is deserving of the highest praise and but for his actions, this incident would almost certainly have resulted in tragic consequences."

The spokesman said the event highlighted the danger of playing near the sea when the tide is in.