British prime minister Tony Blair honoured a policeman from Dublin at the Vodafone Life Savers Awards for rescuing three boys from the freezing Mersey river.
PC Robert Downey joined fellow National Life Savers at a special Downing Street reception, before going on to a gala luncheon at the Savoy hotel, hosted by Vanessa Feltz and Eamonn Holmes.
Mr Blair said: "Bravery in the face of adversity requires a huge strength of will, and we should all be eternally grateful for those who selflessly put others before themselves."