A BT engineer who helped rescue a man from the River Wye in Hereford yesterday morning has been tracked down.

Former Armed Forces man Will Jones, who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, has been hailed a hero after wading into the "raging torrent" and pulling the 19-year-old man to safety.

The patient was taken to Hereford County Hospital suffering with hypothermia following the rescue which happened about 7.15am close to the Left Bank on Bridge Street.

Mr Jones, who is 38, had been cycling to work along the river bank when he heard a cry for help.

The married father-of-three who joined BT from the Army 18 months ago said skills he picked up serving for 14 years in the Armed Forces – including on the front line in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as tours in Sierra Leone and Northern Ireland – helped him deal with the unexpected emergency.

He said: “It was difficult to tell straight away where the cry was coming from. "The water level was higher than normal and the river was a raging torrent so I didn’t expect to see anyone there.

"I looked up and down the river bank and then as I looked down towards the river my worst fears were confirmed.”

After raising the alarm, Mr Jones bravely waded out into the water and pulled the young man to safety.

Following the arrival of the paramedics, the rescuer continued on his way to work.

His boss, Alan Savage, said: “We’re very proud of Will. His brave actions have also been praised by the police.”