Hero police officers save stranded duo off Portobello

TWO police officers have been hailed as heroes after they saved two men who were stranded at sea in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The men were in the water off Portobello

Police received a call around 3.20am informing them of two men in distress just off the coast of Portobello.

PC Jamie Humpage, of Craigmillar Police Station, and PC Andy Hutton, based in Leith, commandeered a boat from the nearby Portobello Sailing Club and went to their rescue.

The men were taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where they were checked over and later discharged.

Superintendent Richard Horan, who is Head of Operations for Police Scotland in Edinburgh, praised the conduct of the officers.

He said: “The actions of PC Humpage and PC Hutton can only be described as heroic.

“Whilst under significant pressure they managed to risk assess the situation and then engineer a successful, swift and safe rescue.

“I’m quite sure that had it not been for their tremendous bravery both stranded men would have lost their lives.

“Aside from having slightly damp uniforms, I’m pleased to say the officers were unharmed and are returning to active duty.

“Our inquiries into the incident itself are ongoing as we look to establish the full set of circumstances, which led to the men being in the water.”