Scots who risked their lives to save others were recognised at the Brave@Heart awards.
Those honoured at the ceremony in Edinburgh Castle hosted by First Minister Alex Salmond included emergency workers and ordinary members of the public who had gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Brave@Heart recipients from Courier Country included friends Ross Geddes, 21, and Liam Stewart, 23, from Errol.
Ross and Liam went to the aid of a suicidal woman about to throw herself off the Queen’s Bridge in Perth, catching her just as she was about to fall.
Despite her struggle, the pair managed to get her to safety. The woman later thanked them for saving her life.
“It’s quite overwhelming, actually. It’s really good to be recognised,” said Ross.
“She was on her way down and I managed to get my arm around her and grabbed hold of her, and pulled her up to get a better grip.
“She started pleading with me to let her go and said she had nothing to live for. But I’m not exactly a small gentleman and managed to pull her over.
“I was appalled that other people did nothing. They just sat and watched and that’s not something I could do. I would do the same for anyone and I would hope in my time of need somebody would help me.
“A couple of months after it, the woman who was trying to throw herself off the bridge came into my work. She spoke to members of staff and managed to track me down to say thank you for what we did.
“It was a cry for help and I was in the right place at the right time. It was nice to know that she was alright.”
Having both worked at the same supermarket, Ross and Liam now both work at Arnold Clark.
Ross said: “Liam’s a gentle giant. He’s the kindest person you could meet. I couldn’t ask for a better friend.”
Also honoured at the ceremony was Rosyth teenager Keli Dalrymple, 15, who contacted police after a youth carrying a knife confronted another youth on a bus.
Keli was recognised along with bus drivers Robin Goodfellow, of Crossford, and Michael Shanks, of Cardenden, who restrained the knife-carrying youth as he struggled violently.
The armed youngster was spotted by Robin while he was driving a bus near a school in Dunfermline. Concerned, he alerted his colleague. Thanks to Keli’s detailed account of what happened, an arrest was made.
Her mum Liz Dalrymple, 49, said: “We just feel so proud of her, that she helped the bus driver. We’re over the moon.
“She does stand up for other people and likes helping people. You never expect things like that to happen on a school bus. Thankfully everything turned out OK.”
Brave police constables Diego Batard and Colin Crosbie were recognised for saving a man from Forfar Loch.
Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the armed forces, the man was in an emotional state and had waded out until he was chest deep at 1.30am.
The two officers swam out into the cold, dark and hazardous water and returned him safely to shore.
Paying tribute to those recognised at the ceremony, Mr Salmond said: “Every day, servicemen and women from Scotland’s emergency services come face to face with life-threatening situations in order to help others.
“To be willing to put your life on the line to help others is a truly selfless act which deserves to be recognised. Each year I hear amazing stories of valour and I am privileged to meet this year’s Brave@Heart award winners.”