A Blackwood man almost drowned after he became trapped under raft taking part in a charity river race.
Andrew Ryan, 44, from Blackwood, was taking part in the race on the River Wye in Redbrook, Gloucestershire, in September last year.
He was one of ten on board the raft when it capsized as the crew tried to avoid eggs and flour thrown by spectators as part of the race tradition.
Mr Ryan, who cannot swim, became trapped under the raft for five minutes. Builder Darell Thomas was watching the race when he realised something had gone terribly wrong.
He said: “There was a young lad on top of the raft yelling ‘help help this is serious’ and I heard a man on a canoe say there was someone underneath.”
Mr Thomas jumped into the water, swam out and pulled Mr Ryan back to the bank.
He added: “I gave him two breaths but his lips were cold and I just couldn’t do it, so I started rubbing his diaphragm in a circular manner and he started breathing again.
“I was one small part of the rescue and there were load of others there – they all ought to have a medal to be honest.”
Mr Thomas was awarded the Gloucestershire Medal last night by Sir Henry Elwes, the Lord-Lieutenant for Gloucestershire.
Mr Ryan has not spoken publicly about his ordeal but told the BBC he owed his life to Mr Thomas.