Hero cop rescues two boys in runaway raft on fast-flowing Angara River

Policeman Alexander Gusakov was on vacation when an alert went out for the missing pair in Tagara village.

The sergeant saw the raft moving away and jumped into his rowing boat to give chase. 

He won praise from Moscow over his quick thinking. 

'Senior sergeant Alexander Gusakov noticed a raft being carried by a strong current down the Angara,' said Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk.

'He rushed down to the water, took his boat and rowed after the boys for several kilometres. 

'Alexander managed to catch up with the raft and got boys safely into his boat.'

The boys said that they found a raft belonging to a local logging company, and decided to play on it. 

The raft broke free and the friends said they lost the moment when they could safely jump off to get to shore. 

The current took them to the middle of the river, which flows out of Lake Baikal. 

Both children were returned to their parents by the policeman, a father of one.