A HEROIC engineer told of the dramatic moment he dived into Taunton’s River Tone to save a man from drowning, in the County Gazette in August 2012.

Modest Ross Montgomery, 31, said “something just kicked in” when he ripped off his shirt, kicked off his shoes and dived into the river.

He then handed the man to paramedics before quietly slipping away from the scene outside Morrisons.

The County Gazette tracked Ross down after he answered an appeal on our website – somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Ross, who had been installing a cinema system at the Brewhouse Theatre nearby, said: “I heard someone shouting for help and ran to see a fully clothed man in a lot of distress in the water.

“I took off my shirt and trainers, emptied my trouser pockets and jumped in.

“I pulled him to one side, and then a doctor came in afterwards and helped get him up the bank, which was quite steep.

“There were lots of people there, and I walked away and left them to it.

“You don’t think about anything. Something kicks in and you just do it.”

A woman who raised the alarm praised Ross and the doctor for their bravery.

The woman, who asked not to be named, screamed for help after spotting the man struggling in the water.

She said: “I dropped everything and shouted for help.

“The two men, who were on the other side of the river, stripped off and dived in without a second thought.

“They swam up to him while I ran to get a life ring, went into the river up to my knees and threw it to them.

“Another man came over and helped me pull the three of them in.

"They were real heroes who risked their lives going in after the man.”