A POLICE OFFICER who put his life at risk to save a man from a freezing river has been named as one of Britain’s heroes.

PC Mohammed Nadeem, whose heroic actions earned him the nickname, The Hoff, had only been in the job nine months when he answered a radio call over concerns for a man near Hardy’s Gate Bridge, off Dumers Lane, in February.

Arriving first on the scene, PC Nadeem saw the man lose his footing and fall into the river.

Without any thought for his own safety, he immediately scrambled nine feet down to the banking, and jumped into the flowing water.

Over the next 20 minutes PC Nadeem, who admitted he is “not a great swimmer”, battled to keep the man from drowning and hauled him against the current to the safety of the bank.

It was only when he was back on dry land that he realised how cold he was, telling the Bury Times at the time: “When I got out I was seriously cold, I couldn’t feel my legs much at one point.”

PC Nadeem was then taken to Fairfield General Hospital, where he was given treatment for hypothermia for around two hours.

His heavily pregnant wife did not know about the rescue and it was only when the story made the headlines and then through social media it went around the globe, that she found out.

Following the incident, PC Nadeem picked up a national Police Bravery Award and was amazed when David “The Hoff” Hasselhoff appeared on screen to congratulate him.

And PC Nadeem’s actions have now been rewarded with the Service to their Country award at The Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons.

Falklands hero Simon Weston presented PC Nadeem with the award at a special luncheon at The Army and Navy Club in London.

After receiving the award, PC Nadeem said: “I am so happy I have won this award particularly the category in which it is in. Also it has felt so special to pick up the award in The Army and Navy Club because of the history of the place and the military heroes connected with the club.

“I am proud because I see my actions are now not only a way of giving back to the town of Bury but also giving back to the whole country.”

The judges said: “PC Nadeem’s totally unselfish act of risking his own life during the course of his police duty to save a complete stranger personified what the Amplifon Brave Briton awards are all about.”

The Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons were set up by global hearing specialist Amplifon in honor of the company’s founder, Second World War Hero Major Charles Holland, who was honoured for his bravery by Britain and America.

The awards recognise members of the public, pets and existing and ex-military personnel who have shown remarkable acts of courage, bravery and incredible selflessness, showing them to be ‘The Best of British’.