A POLICEMAN who plunged into icy river water in a bid to rescue a man trying to commit suicide was left so cold he had to be helped out himself.

PC Scott Ward yesterday recalled the moment he waded into the River Severn at Bewdley, to reach a man who had leapt off the bridge parapet.

"I felt it chilling me to the bone," said the 40-year-old, after receiving two commendations for his bravery.

"Afterwards, I had to be helped up the steps. I couldn't untie my shoelaces or undo my buttons I was so cold."

The married father-of-one was pounding the beat when passers-by raised the alarm after spotting Anthony Vickers plunging into the swollen river.

He raced to the scene with colleagues and, taking a buoyancy aid, waded 20ft through the shallows before swimming into the middle of the fast-flowing water to retrieve the 69-year-old, who was floating face down.

He brought Mr Vickers to the bank, before five colleagues took turns to resuscitate the pensioner, though he died at the scene.

"The irony is, I hate deep water and I'm no great swimmer," said PC Ward.

Staff from nearby hairdressers Steveanco's heated up towels, which they wrapped round the freezing officer.

He then returned home, changed and went straight back to work following the ordeal on Saturday, January 20.

"He came home dripping wet and freezing, and I said straight away: 'Didn't your mother warn you about swimming in the river?'" said PC Ward's wife, Barbara, 40, who watched him receive his awards with daughter Ashley, 14.

"I'm very proud of him, especially as I know he hates deep water."

PC Ward received certificates of commendation from both West Mercia police Chief Constable Peter Hampson and the Royal Lifesaver's Society.

He paid tribute to colleagues Cheryl Jones, Jane Hutton, Jim Crowther, Dominic Lane, Rob Vick and Pete Round, who tried to revive Mr Vickers, of Sedgeberrow Road, Halesowen, West Midlands.

"We award these for people who attempt to rescue someone under difficult conditions and it was a tremendous effort," said Anne Woodward, of the society. "We don't award very many of them."