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14:53 GMT, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 15:53 UK

Boy recognised for river rescue

the newlands family

A young boy who saved his sister from drowning has been among those recognised by police for their bravery.

Connor Newlands, from Comrie, was only 11 when he jumped into the water to help nine-year-old Gemma.

She had become pinned under her bike after falling into the River Lednock. Connor managed to keep her head above the water until help arrived.

In all, 23 people were awarded at a ceremony for acts of bravery such as fire rescues and tackling thieves.

'Head first'

Connor's father Dale said they were really happy to have the police recognise his bravery in rescuing his sister.

He said: "She [Gemma] had actually hit a stone, gone one way, over steered, then gone right over the bank head first.

"She ended up head first in the river and she had her leg and arm through the frame of the bike so Connor wasn't able to pull the bike off her, so he managed to hold her head 'til I got there.

"If Connor hadn't acted the way he did - if he had froze or come down and said 'Dad come quick there's something happened' we wouldn't have been able to find her."

Other brave locals were also honoured at the awards.

Bag snatch

They included William Barber - a joiner with Dundee City Council - who crawled through the open window of a house that was on fire to alert the elderly man inside that he was in danger.

Peter Casey and Angus Henderson helped chase a thief who had stolen a handbag from a car in Dundee. Mr Casey was attacked with a knife - or something similar - when he tried to get the bag back.

Graham Gardner, Daniel Maxton and Andrew Warren helped in the rescue of two boys - one of whom had fallen and hurt his back - at Bishop Hill, in Kinnesswood.

And Duncan Heyes, a 999 call handler, spent more than two hours speaking to a man who was threatening to shoot his family and any police officer who arrived at his house.

He also spoke to the man's wife and convinced her to get the rest of her family out of the building as they were all in danger.

Negotiators managed to convince the man to surrender, more than four hours after Mr Heyes first took the call.



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Related to this story:
Award for child who saved sister (20 Dec 07 |  Tayside and Central )
Tayside heroes honoured by police (18 Dec 07 |  Tayside and Central )
Officers praised for fire rescue (27 Nov 07 |  Tayside and Central )
Heroes honoured in award ceremony (20 Aug 07 |  Tayside and Central )

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