Police officers rushed to the aid of a man who had fallen in the water outside The Quays shopping centre in Newry.
The incident happened in the early hours of Saturday morning and thanks to the quick actions of officers, the man was pulled from the water alive.
Officers used a defibrillator to help regain the man’s pulse and administered first aid until paramedics arrived on scene.
He has since been transferred to Craigavon Hospital from Daisy Hill hospital where he remains in a stable condition,
The PSNI posted a message of thanks: “Shortly after midnight the crews responded to a report of a male in the water close to The Quays.
“We responded immediately and on arriving located a person and removed him.
“We were able to use a defibrillator and continued with first aid, getting a pulse, until the ambulance arrived.
“The male was taken to Daisy Hill where he is critically ill but in the very capable hands of the dedicated staff there.
“We didn’t know the male, his background or anything about him. Our primary role as police officers is to protect life, we did that.”
It continued: “Our thanks to the staff at The Quays, Newry and our colleagues from Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and several passersby.
“One young man in particular provided a blanket with a football team logo on it.
“We are keen to return that to him, so if it’s yours please call us on 101 and quote ref 10 24/09/16.
“Our thoughts are with the male in question and his family.”
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