A KNUTSFORD man has been branded a hero after saving a woman’s life who nearly drowned in the Moor pool. 

33-year-old Anthony Hughes was cycling back from work through the Moor to his home on Westfield Drive at around 4.50pm on Thursday, July 28 when he heard a woman sobbing.

Becoming increasingly concerned Anthony called the police, and was joined by PC Mike Dawber of Knutsford Police ‘within minutes’ by which time the woman was in the pond, struggling to stay above the water.

The heroic pair jumped into the water to save her, battling to keep both themselves and the woman from drowning.

The woman was immediately taken to Macclesfield Hospital for treatment, and has since contacted the police to thank them for their efforts.

“We made the choice to jump in and save her,” said Anthony. “I just had to do it. She was going under the water- there was no choice. She wouldn’t be here now. It was just a natural instinct to get in and save her.

“The crying I heard was quite upsetting. My adrenaline kicked in and it was a spur of the moment decision.”

Anthony, who works at Travis Perkins on Mobberley Road, said that he began worrying about his own safety, and that of PC Mike Dawber when they got stuck in mud and water towards the edge of the pond.

“We got stuck ourselves,” he added. “It was quite a battle. One of the police officers had to help pull us out of the mud.

“The officer was struggling, I was struggling, and she kept going under the water.

“We were sinking. It was very worrying, but we managed to get her out and everyone is alive- that’s the main thing.”

Anthony has since received messages of support from residents, and firefighters ran by his workplace, shouting ‘hero’ as they passed.

He added: “It’s been quite emotional. It’s a bit of a blur. I have had a lot of people messaging me saying I’m a local hero but it’s still not sinking in.

“I can still picture her face, and I know she could’ve died. I just did not expect that on a normal day on the way home from work.”

Police told the Guardian it is unknown how the woman ended up in the water.