PSNI use lifebuoy to save life of woman who entered the River Foyle - 'This is the 36th occasion that lifebuoys have been used to save a life'

The PSNI used a lifebuoy to the save the life of a woman who entered the River Foyle in the early hours of this morning.

Foyle Search and Rescue got the woman to a place of safety with the help of the PSNI and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service paramedics.

The charity said that this is the 36th occasion that a lifebuoy has been used to save a life along the banks of the River Foyle.

A Foyle Search and Resecue spokesperson said: "At 03:33Hrs on Tuesday 20/6/2017 the Police Service of Northern Ireland activated FSR's Emergency Response Team to reports of a person having entered the water, mobile and boat crews responded.

"Foyle Search & Rescue's Emergency Response Co-ordinator arriving on scene observed the Police Service of Northern Ireland had deployed a lifering to a female in the water.

"PSNI personnel directed the female toward ladders and guided her back up to land. The female was then handed to NIAS Paramedics and onward to hospital by Ambulance. FSR boat crews responding were then stood down with FSR land crew on scene checking and re establishing the used lifebuoy for next deployment.

"PSNI are to be commended for their quick thinking and the use of the lifering to effect the rescue of the female.

"This is the 36th occasion that lifebuoys located along the Banks of the River Foyle have been used to save a life."