A POLICE officer who plunged into ice cold water to rescue a suicidal teenager has been honoured for his bravery.

Durham PC Peter Tate, 28, is to receive an award from the Royal Humane Society for his attempt to save a 16-year-old girl from the River Wear.

PC Tate, from Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, and his colleague Sergeant Steve Donnelly had been called to New Elvet Bridge, in Durham, at about midnight on October 28, last year, where the girl was balanced precariously on the wrong side of the parapet, about 20ft above water.

While Sgt Donnelly tried to talk the girl out of jumping, PC Tate collected a lifebelt from the police station.

Eventually, the girl lost her balance and fell backwards, hitting the water head-first.

PC Tate jumped in and swam 20m into the river with the lifebelt, while her anorak kept her afloat. Unconscious, she slipped out of the ring so PC Tate swam to her again and pulled her back to shore.

He said: "I haven't really thought about it much since it happened to be truthful. But it was a very pleasant surprise when I came back from leave to find I had this award."

Secretary of the Royal Humane Society, Major General Christopher Tyler, congratulated PC Tate on his achievement. He said: "The water was deep and cold, and the night was dark, yet he unhesitatingly swam 20 metres to save this girl. He is a credit to the force and thoroughly deserves his award."