A BIKER has been hailed a hero after he stripped off his leathers and plunged into icy waters to rescue a drowning seven-year-old boy.

Mark Minchell, 32, was riding his Ducati motorbike beside the River Tyne, when he spotted Liam Devine thrashing about in the water.

He struggled out of his protective leathers and dived into the river to pull the terrified youngster to safety.

Yesterday, Liam was reunited with his rescuer and declared: "He's my hero".

The drama unfolded when Liam, who can't swim, was playing with friends next to the Tyne, at Jarrow, South Tyneside, on Sunday afternoon.

The youngster was balancing on a wall 10ft above the water when he slipped on damp bricks and plunged into the icy river,

Mr Minchell, a paint sprayer, was on a leisurely ride when he heard screams for help.

He said: "When I got there he was going under. I had to strip off my leathers because they are too heavy, so I got down to my boxer shorts and dived in and grabbed him from under the water."

Passers-by called emergency services and Liam was taken by ambulance to hospital suffering from hypothermia.

He was later allowed to return to his home in Jarrow.

His relieved, mother, Marie, 29, said: "I'm told Mark appeared from nowhere like a guardian angel on a motorbike."