A triathlete who plunged into a freezing river to rescue a drowning man has said his specialist training saved both their lives.

Michael Jones, from Maidstone braved a six-degree temperature and strong currents in the River Medway after people spotted a man face-down in the water.

The drama unfolded by St Peter's Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

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Minutes before, the 61-year-old had been training for a triathlon with a 3, 200 metre swim at a nearby gym. But he was forced to abandon the session because of cramp in both legs.

He said: "I was cycling along the bank of the River Medway when I heard a shout of ‘help help help’ and a guy ran round the corner.

Video: Michael Jones went into the water to save the man.

"I asked what's happening and he said he couldn't swim and could I help.

"There is a guy in the water just bobbing, his feet kicking and I thought to myself I've got to get in that water.

"I was quite scared."

Drivers stuck in traffic on St Peter's Bridge alerted emergency services and but by the time they arrived the experienced sportsman, who is also partially blind and deaf, had already brought the stricken man back to the bank.

Police helped both men from the water and Mr Jones, a bus inspector for Transport for London gave first aid before paramedics took over treating the man.

A temporary road closure on Maidstone Bridge was in place during the rescue and more than 10 police cars, an ambulance and several response vehicles were at the scene.

The rescued man received treatment at the scene before being taken to Maidstone Hospital.

His condition is not known at this time.

But Mr Jones, a who has competed in more than 70 triathlons, said without the specialist training he and other athletes undergo to handle the low temperatures of open-water swims, the outcome could have been very different.

The Maidstone Harriers member said:"Your gut instinct would be to dive or jump in but you have to think first as the water is so cold you could become a casualty."

"Six to seven degrees doesn’t sound that cold but it is."

Several Maidstone residents described Mr Jones' actions as heroic - something he said isn't true. He simply said: "We are both lucky I had the training I had.

"My training shows we can help in those situations like this. We are not going to dive in and be a casualty, we are not going to be stupid. We are going to do the sensible thing, we are going to get out there and use our skills."

Mr Jones was one of the competitors in the Leybourne Lakes triathlon in August, in which 34-year-old Paul Gallihawk lost his life.

It was a tragedy which Mr Jones said was keenly felt by the organisers of the races and those who compete in them.

An inquest held in September found Mr Gallihawk suffered from epilepsy, which played a part in his death during the Ocean Lake triathlon at Leybourne Lakes.

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