A MAN who plunged into a dangerous river to save a pensioner says he is no hero - but professional rescuers think otherwise.

Bradley Margach, 24, was presented with a bronze life saving medal of the Order of St John yesterday - an award made only to those who have displayed outstanding acts of bravery.

The assistant manager, who plunged 20ft into the River Tees from the Tees Barrage, at Stockton, to save a 71-year-old man, was presented with his medal by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne.

Mr Margach said: "The river bank was too steep to get out, so I stayed with him trying to keep him talking until the paramedics arrived. It was really cold in there and I just tried to keep him as far out of the water as possible."

The man he dived in to rescue, in April, was dressed only in pyjamas and slippers.

Battling with currents, only feet from the barrage's sluice gates and unable to keep a foothold on slippery rocks, Mr Margach kept the pensioner's head above water for 20 minutes until help arrived.

He said afterwards: "I just did what I had to do. It was the natural thing to do, and it's a good thing that has come out of it, that I was able to help somebody."