A teenager who rescued another man from the sea in Derry was left by police to find his own way home in soaking wet clothes, it was claimed today.
Darren McGarvey (19) plunged into the freezing water at the Portstewart holiday resort at 1.30am yesterday to save a man who had jumped in from the promenade.
He succeeded in pulling him out and got him on to dry land with the help of police officers who arrived later on the scene.
The man, who was attempting to take his own life, was brought to hospital where he was treated for hypothermia.
Mr McGarvey, from Articlave in Coleraine, requested a lift from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to his home 15 miles away, fearing that he would not be able to get a taxi in his soaking wet clothes.
His father, John, said he was very disappointed the PSNI failed to oblige. I felt the least they could do was offer him a lift home in a police vehicle when the water was running out of him.
The man was lying face down and if my son didn't move, he would have been a goner."
He said the PSNI had offered Darren a lift in the ambulance with the man who had been rescued, but he did not want to get in the way of medical staff. He eventually got a lift home with a friend.
PSNI Inspector Bob Blemmings, from Coleraine District Command Unit, praised Mr McGavern for his actions. "This was a selfless and courageous act. This young man went into the water to help a person who was in trouble. We are currently preparing a report recommending that these actions be formally recognised," he said.
A PSNI spokesman said Mr McGarvey had been offered medical assistance but could not be given a lift at 2.20am because all units had to be sent to a serious incident. He said that Mr McGavern had declined the offer of a taxi and added that when the police car was available again at 2.40am, the young man had left the area.