A police officer has been hailed a hero after he helped to save three girls from tragedy when they became stuck in neck-deep water.
PC Martyn Burnikell was at an unrelated scene in Blyth on June 10 just after 8pm when a member of the public pulled up alongside the officers having received a message stating their child and friends were stuck in water at Blyth Riverside.
The officer hot footed his way to the Northumberland riverbank and scoured the river to locate the girls, who were over 50 metres from the bank and struggling in muddy, neck-deep water. PC Burnikell then assisted Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service and Blyth and Newbiggin Coastguard Team in the urgent rescue mission.
