A HEROIC lorry driver leapt out of his vehicle to stop a man jumping into the freezing River Wye.

Tony Baker, was driving his Quick Skip Recycling lorry over the Greyfriars Bridge at 11.30am today when he saw the man in his 50s stood on the wrong side of the railings threatening to jump into the river below.

Another driver also stopped and the pair helped to pull the man back over the railings to safety.

Paul Lively, director of Quick Skip Recycling, said he was very proud of his employee’s heroic actions.

He said: “A lot of people would have just drove on and wouldn't have stopped.

"Tony has been with us for over 10 years and is ex-military so he's a big chap.

"He's a good guy and it's nice for lorry drivers to get the credit for something as he has saved somebody's life."

Police confirmed that they were called to Greyfriars Bridge at 11.30am. A man in his 50s was taken to hospital and received medical treatment.

Mary Powell was travelling the opposite way on the A49 and thinks that Tony should receive an award for his heroic act.

She added: "The man was hanging down on the opposite side of the railings over the river.

"The lorry driver just pulled up and stopped quickly. He was holding onto him from the other side before pulling him back over.

"I thought what a brilliant thing to do. To just stop like that was fantastic. If it wasn't for him the man wouldn't have survived."