THE COURAGE of Enniskillen-based PSNI Constable David Beattie (pictured with his wife Jenny, children Harley and Naomi, and mother, Olive) was applauded on Monday night when he was presented with a bravery award for saving a 19-year-old Dromore man from drowning.

In the early hours of February 24, Noel McIvor was walking along the wall of the bridge on Queen Elizabeth Road when he fell into the Erne river below. His life was in great danger, because recent torrential rain had made the river swollen with a strong current.

After being flagged down by his friends, Constable Beattie – who cannot swim – climbed across slippery concrete pipes and held a coat for Mr. McIvor to grab and pulled him to safety. Constable Beattie was pleased with the reward, but did not see himself as “courageous”, saying: “It’s just something you do – it was done and that was it.”