A pair of tourists are reported to have made a heroic rescue of a man who fell into Hamilton Harbour on Thursday afternoon.

Police confirmed a Smith's Parish man went into the water near Number Six Shed after apparently losing his footing, but said he was able to swim towards the dock where he was helped out of the water.

But taxi driver Joe L Brown told a different story; he said two of his customers, Dianna and John King, went into the water to rescue the man, who reportedly said he was trying to commit suicide.

Mr. Brown said Mrs. King, of Boston, Massachusetts, screamed for help when the man went in around 4.45 p.m., but that others just watched and did nothing to help.

"She started screaming for help for people to call the Police, but people just watched. Nobody did a thing,'' Mr. Brown told The Royal Gazette last night.

"She and her husband jumped over and pulled him ashore. Police did not take a statement from the man who had just saved this man's life.

"They only thing they asked was whether he was trying to commit suicide or was drunk. He said he didn't know.

"The man had said to both of them to leave him alone, he was trying to commit suicide. I don't know why there has been no big story about this or why nothing has come out about it.'' A Police spokeswoman said last night: "The man apparently lost his footing and fell into the water and was able to swim to the dock area and was assisted out of the water.'' TOURIST TOU