Student nurse saves boy from drowning in river Severn near Diglis Hotel

Jamie Bryan insists he is 'no hero' after he dragged the screaming boy, who could not swim, out of the river near the Diglis Hotel in Worcester at around 5pm on Saturday.

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The 21-year-old of King Edmund Square, off Moor Street, Worcester was feeding the ducks on steps leading down to the river when he heard screeching brakes.

SCARY: The incident happened near Worcester Cathedral

Mr Bryan, a student nurse at the University of Worcester, turned to see the boy, aged between seven and nine, fall over and slide into the water down an estimated 12-foot drop.

ACTION: Jamie Bryan insisted he was no hero. But his friend begs to differ

"It was kind of surreal and it seemed to happen in slow motion. I think he rode the bike off the bank and he and his bike tumbled into the Severn. He came off his bike and was falling with it," he said.

Mr Bryan said it took some effort to lift the boy out of the river before carrying him to a bench which he said left him 'exhausted'.

"He said he could not feel his legs or his feet afterwards. He said while he was in the river he could not swim.

"At one stage he was fully submerged but managed to doggy paddle his way over. He said he was in a lot of pain and thought he had broken his legs. He was screaming. 

"I'm a student nurse so I understand what to do."

A friend contacted Worcester News describing Mr Bryan as a 'hero'.

However, Mr Bryan insisted it was 'a big team effort'.

Someone called an ambulance and a woman comforted the boy while another woman recovered the boy's bike for him.

Mr Bryan located the boy's uncle who was 'attentive' when he discovered what had happened.

He added: "It was very impressive and it was nice to see. I think humanity comes into it a bit.

"It would be wrong to just sit there and not help a kid who has just fallen off his bike.

"It's probably going to be quite traumatic for the child. The only option is to help."

When asked if he was a hero he said: "I don't see myself as a hero. I think the woman who sat was sitting with the child while I tried to find his uncle was the real hero. She knew the right things to say and she was able to calm him down. She was a really good, honest and amazing person."

His friend, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I’m convinced he saved the young boy's life because he was unable to swim. I believe this brave quick action deserves publication."

A spokesman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed they received a 999 call but added: "There was no patient at the scene on our arrival."