AN heroic Evesham man who rescued a woman from the River Avon after she jumped off Workman Bridge is to receive a top bravery honour.

Michael Rayne, of Monks Walk, Bridge Street, has been awarded a Royal Humane Society testimonial on parchment for saving the life of the suicidal woman in July.

On hearing about the award, the 60-year-old said: "I am pleased. I think it is a nice gesture." Mr Rayne, a retired policeman from Zimbabwe, had seen the woman sitting on the bridge from his balcony and suspected she was going to leap into the water. "She had been there for about five minutes and her body language was not what we usually see of people on the bridge," he said.

Concerned for the young woman's safety, he decided to go and talk to her, but as he went to leave his house, Mr Rayne's wife saw the woman jump in.

Mr Rayne rushed down to the landing stage, threw a buoyancy aid towards the woman - who was motionless - then dived in and swam about 40 yards and brought her to safety. But he has played down his role as a hero.

Mr Rayne said: "It was instinct. I really like to believe that anybody else would have done the same thing."

The society's secretary, Dick Wilkinson, announced the award in December and praised Mr Rayne for his actions.

He said: "But for Mr Rayne's selfless bravery, this woman would almost certainly have drowned. He risked his own safety, even his life, in the deep and fast-flowing river and thoroughly deserves this award."

Mr Rayne has not heard from the woman since the incident
He said: "It would be nice to say hello."