A HEREFORD man has been hailed a hero after he saved the life of a woman who had fallen into the freezing River Wye.

Jason Pardoe, aged 33, from Belmont, was walking home near the Victoria Bridge shortly before 3am last Friday, when he heard the screams of a woman.

“It was very dark and at first I thought there was a black football in the middle of the river,” said Mr Pardoe.

“I heard a woman screaming “help” so I chucked a buoy into the river but it did not reach her.

“I realised that the current was taking her so I jumped in.”

Mr Pardoe, a printer at Elite Plastics in Rotherwas Industrial Estate, called the emergency services before jumping into the river.

Police and fire crews, assisted by a rescue boat, found them clinging to a branch on the south bank at Putson.

“We must have been holding on to each other for about 30 minutes,” said Mr Pardoe.

“All the time I was telling her that everything will be alright and don’t let go.”

They were taken to Hereford County Hospital and treated for the effects of early hypothermia.

But it could have been far worse, especially as Mr Pardoe finished his night shift early because he was feeling unwell.

“It was just luck that I was there at the time,” said Mr Pardoe, who added that he was not a strong swimmer.

“I don’t see myself as a hero – the real heroes are the emergency services as they do a great job seven days a week.”

But the 20-year-old woman he rescued, who does not want to be named, insists he is a hero.

“I am so grateful to Jason who risked his own life to save mine and I also want to say thank you to the rescue team and hospital staff who took care of me,” she said.

“Everything is still not clear to me what happened.

“I remember when I fell and hit the water it was freezing and I instantly shouted for help.

“After being swept down river I started to get tired when I heard the call of a man – next thing I know he was in the river pulling me towards the side.

“He then helped me to a nearby branch and held me tight. He is a true hero – my hero.”

Mr Pardoe’s work colleagues have also praised his actions.

“Jason is one of the longest serving members of the team and is a lovely chap,” said Martin Brunt, head of managing services at Elite Plastics.

“He is a most unassuming man and quietly spoken, but we are very proud of him.

“No doubt we’ll be making a fuss of him when he returns to work.”

Station manager Neil Pigott, of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue, who will recommend that Mr Pardoe is put forward for a bravery award, said: “I don’t think it’s any exaggeration to call him a hero.

“Any person would have known that their life was at risk doing what he did. It was very unusual that anybody would still be alive in water the temperature that it was.”

Inspector Callie Bradley, of Hereford Police, said: “This was an extremely brave and dangerous act in entering the water in complete darkness and, at this time of year, the river is very cold.

“I’m sure his actions saved the young lady and prevented a possible fatality.”