A PENSIONER and two students who jumped into a river to save a young woman have been honoured.

John Davies dived in after Hayley Brown, 25, fell into the River Wear, in Durham City centre, in September last year.

A retired police officer and former lifeguard, Mr Davies, 73, from Catchgate, Stanley, County Durham, was the first person to jump in.

He reached Ms Brown in the middle of the river and was joined by York University student Michael Perkins, 20, from Bishop Auckland, and Peter Lawley, 21.

Mr Davies said: “I did not think about it, I just went straight in, but coming back... was a bit of a struggle.”

They were helped out of the water by police Sergeant Colin Dobson, who is now an Inspector, and PC Mark Ogilvie, who gave Ms Brown first aid until paramedics arrived.

She was taken to hospital, but died several days later.

The rescuers and officers have been awarded commendations from the St John Ambulance service and the Royal Humane Society.

Mr Davies said: “It is nice to get a reward for what we did, it is just sad that it did not have happy ending.”