Eleven-year-old Kevin Duff and his seven-year-old sister Shannon had been trying to ice-skate on the frozen pond just yards from their home in Inverness.

Kevin braved the cold to come to the aid of Shannon who had crashed through the thin ice.

The alarm was raised and a policeman arrived on the scene and managed to reach the pair.

The cold took my breath away but I ploughed on until I got hold of the boy Sergeant Alan Heath Northern Constabulary

Shannon had disappeared below the surface but her brother had managed to grab her and hoist her on to a thicker and safer piece of ice.

Passers-by had witnessed the events and alerted the police.

Police Dog Unit Sergeant Alan Heath, 42, also heard the alert on his radio and hurried to assist.

He said: "I overheard the radio message to say there was a young boy who had fallen through ice at the pond at Balloan Road.

"He had apparently saved his young sister but then couldn't get out himself.

"He was standing chest deep in the water about 30-to-40 feet from the bank, and the paramedics who had also arrived were getting worried about his condition.

"I grabbed a lifeline rope which we carry and I crawled across the ice, spreading my weight over it by going out feet first and pushing with my hands."

Sergeant Heath said he threw the rope out but Kevin's hands were so cold the boy could not grab it so the policeman plunged in.

He was a brave wee boy to do what he did Sergeant Alan Heath Northern Constabulary

"The cold took my breath away but I ploughed on until I got hold of the boy," he added.

"I secured the safety line to him and lifted him on to solid ice and he was pulled to safety.

"I wasn't in the water as long as the boy, but my fingers and toes were quickly so painful I could hardly bear it.

"He was a brave wee boy to do what he did."

All three were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for a check-up and released after treatment.