A man who faces deportation just days after witnessing his friend being swept away in the River Ness has a fortnight to convince the authorities to let him stay.
Kamil Luczak has been transferred from Glasgow to Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre in London, and has been given two weeks to appeal a decision to kick him out of the country.
The Press and Journal revealed yesterday that Mr Luczak had been on the Greig Street bridge in Inverness 11 days ago when his friend and compatriot Marek Michalak fell into the river and disappeared.
He told his support worker that he had he grabbed Mr Michalak’s hand to try to save him – but that he was not strong enough to stop him falling.
A full-scale emergency was launched on January 31 after a man went into the water, but no one has been recovered and the identity of the missing person has not been officially released.
The move to deport Mr Luczak to Poland is not related to the incident, but instead is believed to be linked to a non-appearance at court last month and “irregular” payments of fines.
However, his support worker Aldona Fryc-Danielewska has said he has been suffering from post traumatic stress disorder since Mr Michalak’s disappearance, and should be hospitalised not deported.
It is understood that Mr Luczak is now working with a lawyer, who has been in touch with officials at the Polish consulate.
Mr Luczak has been in Scotland for about two years, working for work agencies, as a kitchen porter, and selling the Big Issue.
Yesterday, Ms Fryc-Danielewska spoke to members of Mr Michalak’s family in Poland yesterday, who were aware of his disappearance.
It is believed that the missing man, who has children in Poland, had been working in a factory in Inverness, but was recently one of several to be made redundant.
The police, Home Office, and Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs all declined to comment when contacted by the Press and Journal.
Inverness Central councillor Donnie Kerr had been told that it was Mr Michalak who fell into the river.
“I think I had met the both of them at one time or another,” he said last night.
“I think I had helped a lot of the Polish boys with housing. I would meet them in town and speak to them.
“It’s unfortunate if it is just somebody larking about. I feel for his family.”