A brave cop waded into a freezing Renfrewshire river to rescue a stricken teenager.
Police Scotland launched a major operation when an 18-year-old lad was reported missing in the Houston area on Sunday morning.
The extensive search involved dog units, the police helicopter and specialist Scottish and Fire and Rescue teams.
Eventually the chopper spotted the vulnerable teen floating in the Gryffe River at around 8.30am.
Rescue teams scrambled to the river bank in a desperate bid to save the young man, covering access points to the river.
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A police constable courageously jumped into the water and pulled the flailing teen to safety and into the hands of waiting medical help.
The Scottish Ambulance Service dispatched its Special Operations Response Team to the scene which raced the young man to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley after he was dragged to the bank.
It’s understood the 18-year-old was treated for the effects of cold water exposure.
Inspector Jim Cast, from Renfrew, Johnstone and the villages community policing team, praised the team involved in the rescue and said but for their quick thinking the situation could have had much more serious consequences.
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He told the Paisley Daily Express: “This was a piece of first-class work from all officers concerned, who worked as a team to cover all the accessible points of the river.
“One of the officers was then able to take hold of the male who was in trouble and I have no doubt prevented the situation from escalating further.
He added: “Once out of the river the male was offered first aid and was clearly suffering from the effects of the cold water. This example highlights the type of difficult incident officers are faced with on a regular basis.”
