Turkish Mayor Interrupts Official Ceremony To Rescue A Diver Who Fainted In A River

A mayor interrupted a civic ceremony to dive off a pier and save a scuba diver who had fainted in the water. Ismail Yildirim, mayor of the town of Karamursel in north-western Turkey's Koceli Province, was attending a ceremony to mark the anniversary of a ferry disaster.

Two divers were in the sea to place a wreath on the water in tribute to the 272 people who lost their lives in the Uskudar Disaster of 1958.

Onlookers could hardly believe their eyes when Mayor Yildirim suddenly pulled off his shoes, tie and jacket and jumped into the water with an enormous splash.

He had spotted that one of the scuba divers, a woman called Senay Ertorun, had fainted in the water and was in difficulties.

The mayor, who is himself a qualified diver, swam over to the woman and pulled her to the shore.

The mayor's quick-thinking and selfless actions in jumping into the cold water earned him a round of applause from the watching crowd.

Ms Ertorun was treated at the scene and has made a good recovery.