A DUNDEE man, who braved icy water to swim to the aid of a Fife teenager who had plummeted more than 60 feet down a Perthshire cliff, last night refused to be hailed a hero, claiming he was happy that he was able to have helped.

Stephan Derkacz (47) and his wife Debbie had been walking their dogs with friends Barbara Whitling and Sue Webster on the opposite embankment when they heard screaming and, after initially thinking it was children playing, they soon realised it was much more serious.

Gareth Hope (14) had been playing on his mountain bike with his brother on a path on the banks of the River Garry when he fell and tumbled down to rest on a rock ledge beneath Garry Bridge, south of Killiecrankie.

While Sue phoned the emergency services from her mobile, Rangers fan Mr Derkacz entered the freezing water to reach the distressed boy and, after discovering the teenager was a Celtic supporter, he kept him conscious with Old Firm banter.

“We were walking our dogs when we heard loud squeals,” said Mr Derkacz, a driver with Dundee City Council social work department.

“At first we thought it was kids mucking about then we noticed the boy lying on the rock.

“He was lying on the ledge and was becoming more and more distressed, so, after assessing the risks of the current and things, I decided to wade in and swim across to him.

“It was quite deep and freezing cold. When I got to him I just asked him what team he supported and he said Celtic and, as I am an avid Rangers fan, I joked that if I had known he had supported Celtic I wouldn’t have come across!

“With my first aid training I didn’t move him as I didn’t want to do him any further damage.

“I just kept speaking to him until the paramedics arrived and we had a bit of banter about the football and he told me he liked rugby as well and where he was from and things.

“He was in quite a lot of pain so we spoke about anything to take his mind off it.”

Emergency services abseiled down to the pair and the teenager was taken along the river by police boat to a waiting air ambulance to rush him to Ninewells Hospital.

After speaking to Gareth’s parents last night, Mr Derkacz said he was pleased the boy had been allowed home from hospital.

He refused to be regarded as a hero.

“I am just happy that the lad is all right and I was able to help.

“I have spoke to Gareth and his parents and they tell me he is on the mend and they have thanked me.”