A GWENT pub landlord was hailed a hero after he rescued a drowning fisherman from a swollen river.

David Gover leapt into the River Usk in Abergavenny when he saw angler Jonathan Rouse struggling after falling in the water.

Mr Gover dragged Mr Rouse to safety and tried to resucitate him before paramedics arrived.

Mr Rouse survived with only mild hypothermia - but said he would be dead if it wasn't for the quick actions of Mr Gover. "I was very lucky," said Mr Rouse, 30, who works at Abergavenny Guns and Tackle. "If he hadn't jumped in and saved me I would be dead. He saved my life. He's a hero."

Mr Gover, 36, was serving at the Bridge Inn in Llanfoist, which he runs with partner Sally Thorne, when the incident happened at 4pm on Wednesday.

He said: "One of the customers said he could see somebody in the river. I ran down there, tore my shirt off and just jumped in.

"Someone had thrown a life ring in and I took it to him. I had to dive underwater to get him. It was clear he was in a bad way. He was like a rag doll. He was drowning, there's no doubt about it."

Mr Rouse said he was taking a shortcut across the river under the arches of the Merthyr Road bridge when the current, swollen by heavy rain, dragged him under.

Weighed down by his heavy fishing equipment, he struggled to stay above the water. "I went under three times and I couldn't get up," he said.

"I called desperately for help but no-one came.

"I went under one last time and the next thing I know I was in the back of the ambulance."

He was taken to Abergavenny's Nevill Hall Hospital where he was treated for hypothermia. He was released later that same day having suffered no serious injuries.

Mr Rouse went into the Bridge Inn the following day and said an emotional thank-you to his saviour.

Mr Gover said: "Sally thinks I'm stupid for putting myself in danger but I didn't think about it. I just did it."

A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed a member of the public rescued a man from the River Usk before he was taken to hospital.

Abergavenny councillor Jane Foulson said: "This is wonderful. What a brave man! I'm a keen swimmer so I know what a fine effort he made."