Hero police officers helped save the life of a man who had gone missing from hospital and ended up in a "fast flowing" river.
The two police constables and a PCSO plunged into the River Lavant on Thursday night (23 April) to rescue a man who had earlier been reported missing from St Richard's Hospital, Chichester.
A passer-by called police after hearing groans and screams coming from the direction of the river near Church Road.
Officers responded and found the man, 33, in 12 feet of water. He was extremely cold and resistant to help, but the officers managed to get him onto the bank before he was returned to the hospital by ambulance.
The officers involved were PC James Bunch, PC Richard Smart and PCSO Daniel Sibun. PC Bunch grazed an arm but they were otherwise unhurt.
Chichester police commander Chief Inspector Justin Burtenshaw said: "I'm very proud of the way these officers acted. It is likely that without the passer-by's intervention and the officers' subsequent efforts to rescue the man he may not have survived."
(1of2) Tonight my team have been dealing with many missing persons all of concern due to medical issues or risk of CSE
— Ps suzie mitchell (@suzieDm551) April 23, 2015
2/2 officers bunch,smart& pcso sibun just pulled one of the missing persons out of a fast flowing river #joblikenoother #braveteam
— Ps suzie mitchell (@suzieDm551) April 23, 2015
3/3 he is currently being looked after by the hospital , very cold but lucky to be alive
— Ps suzie mitchell (@suzieDm551) April 23, 2015
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