A HERO police community support officer jumped over a wall taller than himself and pulled a man out of a river who was ‘minutes from death’.

PCSO Dave Johnson, who works in the Ramsbottom area, initially heard on his radio about a person who was in distress in the Irwell, near Peel Brow.

The 6ft PCSO ran down Kenyon Street and over the bridge at Peel Brow before jumping over an approximately 9ft wall into the premises of the old paper mill on the river bank.

From there, he moved part of a chicken wire fence and made his way down the steep, overgrown river bank and rescued the man, dragging him out of the water.

Employees from nearby company Irwell Street Metal then helped, using a rope to get the man up the steeper section of the bank to safety.

Eyewitness and owner of ISM, Peter Allen, said he wants to speak to PCSO Johnson's commanding officer to recommend him for a bravery award.

PCSO Johnson, who was also helped by colleague PCSO Collette Bispham, had been talking to owners and employees at ISM, in Kenyon Street, when the call initially came through.

Mr Allen's son Ross, aged 20, who works at the company and helped drag the man to safety, said: “Dave is the real hero here, his actions have saved the guy’s life I’m sure.

“If he hadn’t have got to him when he did, he could have carried on floating down the river and he wasn’t in a fit state to swim.

“When we saw him he was shaking and really not with it.

“His lips were blue and he was so cold.

“If he had been there for another 15 minutes I think he would have died.”

PCSO Johnson, aged 34, said: "I was only doing my job and reacted how I'm sure anyone would in my role, I'm not one for glory.

"The only thing I do keep thinking about is how I got over that wall.

"I'm in good physical shape, but still, I don't really know how I managed it.

"The sister of the man in the river contacted me to thank me, which is an incredible reward in itself.

"And it is very kind of Peter to say that, I really appreciate it."

Police confirmed officers were called to the scene shortly after 5pm.

Because the man who was rescued initially said he had been in a boat with ‘about 20’ other people, the police helicopter and fire service's water rescue teams were called, and searches in the area continued into the evening.

But it is believed the man, who appeared drunk or under the influence of drugs, was in fact the only person who was in the river.

Police said the man was taken to Fairfield Hospital, but his injuries were not life-threatening.

Mr Allen's father Peter Allen, managing director of Irwell Street Metal, later posted in the ‘What’s On in Ramsbottom’ Facebook community group.

Mr Allen wrote: “Tonight one very lucky man, who had an angel watching over him, still has a life to live.

“There is one very brave copper who just so happened to be in my office, which was less than 100 yards away from the incident when the call came in.

“I've just spoken with the bobby who waded into the fast-flowing river and who without doubt saved this bloke’s life, also not forgetting his female colleague who was assisting in this rescue.

“Having been there on the spot with him I will be recommending him for a bravery award, it's that simple.”