THREE Good Samaritans who rescued a drowning man near Sutton Courtenay were reunited for the first time when they were awarded police commendations at Drayton Park Golf Club last Thursday.

Angler Paul Holifield, 49, an Abingdon School electrician from Brize Norton, leapt from his boat after a man fell from a bridge at Sutton Pools into the weir on March 13 last year.

He found the man face down in the weir pool, waded in and dragged his body to the riverbank.

Assistance came from Rick Hussey, 52, and his wife Gaynor, 48, of Boars Hill, who were on the bank walking their dog.

Mr Hussey, who learned first aid while an RAF engineer, carried out mouth to mouth resuscitation and brought the man back to life while his wife helped paramedics find the secluded riverside location.

They were commended by Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Sara Thornton.

Mr Holifield said: “I waded out into the water waist deep. He must have been 20 or 30 feet away.

“It was very cold, but I dragged him up on to the bank. It was just spur of the moment.

“I didn’t think I was in any danger. I just thought I’d go in and do something about it.

“I’m quite chuffed about the award.”

When the man was heaved on to the riverbank, he was not breathing and had no heartbeat.

Mr Hussey said he vaguely remembered the basics of resuscitation from serving with the RAF.

He added: “By the time he was pulled out, he’d been in the water for quite a few minutes and was pretty well gone. But there was just enough left for the CPR to pull him back again.

“We realised it was something we had to do and got on with it. It was simply a case of being in the right place at the right time.

“After the ambulance took him away, we carried on our way and went home. What else was there to do?”

It took about 20 minutes for emergency services to arrive, having to walk along a path to the scene, Mr Hussey said.

His wife used her mobile phone to direct the ambulance. She said: “We helped as much as we could. It’s so unexpected to get a police award.”

Police spokesman David Staines said the man made a full recovery.

Chief Constable Sara Thornton said: “Paul, Gaynor and Rick showed tremendous courage and selflessness as they rescued a very distressed man.”