European Games bronze medalist Sean McComb was hailed as a hero yesterday in Belfast as the two time national champion helped catch two thieves in separate incidents.

Speaking to BelfastLive last night, the 23 year old said he was working for a sightseeing tour in the city centre when he was called into action. ""It was early on this morning. I was just standing outside city hall working for City Sightseeing Belfast and some girl was standing waiting on her bus just across the street. Then I just saw everybody pointing up the street shouting: "That guy stole her purse, that guy stole her purse!"

McComb went to chase the thief before saving the purse which had the woman's bank cards and PIN details.

The day didn't end there for "Sugar" Sean though. He was called into action within an hour as he had to rescue a stolen phone. "I was walking up the town with some customers, and we were coming back down I saw a man running in the front of city hall. I saw all my colleagues pointing and pointing - I thought to myself 'No way, this could not be happening again."

As he did earlier in the day, McComb caught the second thief and retrieved the phone for the victim. He said after the incidents: "For the man to get his phone back and the girl to get the purse back... they're important items - it saved them both a lot of hassle."