A HERO policeman says he was just doing his job when he saved a teenager’s life after she dived half naked into a freezing river as a drunken prank.

PC Dean Chedzoy leapt into action when he heard the 17-year-old’s screams while he was on patrol along the footpath beside the River Tone, in Taunton.

He sprinted 50 metres along the bank, up onto a bridge and down the other side to haul the girl, who was in her underwear, to safety.

“It was just lucky I was there at that time,” said PC Chedzoy, who was on the path between Priory Bridge and Morrisons when she dived into the river on the other side at about 9pm on Friday.

“I heard a scream, turned round and saw a young woman jumping into the river.

“I ran up the pathway, over the bridge and down the other side, taking off some of my kit, thinking I was going to have to jump in.”

As it turned out, PC Chedzoy, a police officer for 13 years, managed to coax the shivering and distressed girl to the side of the river, but she was unable to get out on her own because of the steep concrete plinth.

He said: “I managed to grab her wrists and pull her out.

“But she started to go into shock due to the cold and I got her into the recovery position, put my coat over her and kept her talking to keep her awake until the ambulance arrived as she was drifting asleep.

“If she’d been in the water much longer she might not have survived.”

PC Chedzoy played down his actions – he said: “I suppose when you see something you just react.

“It’s just part of the job – when you give the oath you swear to save life and limb. It’s just something you do.”

The teenager, who was with a friend and had apparently been drinking before the incident, was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, for a check up.

Insp Bob Muckett said: “The police are always here to help people in distress.

“PC Chedzoy’s actions are a great example of the prompt actions of a police officer saving someone’s life.

“It also underlines how dangerous it is to enter the water, especially after dark in very cold weather.”