A North East journalist is to receive a top life-saver award for rescuing a teenager from the Tyne.

Huw Lewis, (31), has been awarded a Royal Humane Society testimonial after he waded into the river to save 19-year-old Spencer Bailey in June this year.

The parchment testimonial was awarded on the recommendation of Northumbria Police chief constable Crispian Strachan.

Freelance journalist Huw, who previously worked for the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal and Shields Gazette, was walking along the riverside, which was swollen due to heavy rains and several feet above its normal level, when he heard shouting.

He found Spencer being swept along by the current and trying to grab overhanging branches.

Huw waded into the river and managed to grab hold of the teenager and hung onto him until police arrived.

Huw said: “It’s a bit odd really. I’m used to writing about other people getting these kind of awards and then suddenly I get one.

“I am pleased to get it – and my mum and dad are delighted.

“It was an automatic response. When it happened, me and my fiancée were the only people there. I’m glad everything worked out all right.”

Major General Christopher Tyler, secretary of the Royal Humane Society, said: “He went into a dangerous river with no thought for his own safety in order to reach Spencer Bailey.

“We’ve no idea how Mr Bailey ended up in the river but without Mr Lewis’s efforts this incident could have had a tragic end. He richly deserves this award.”

Huw began his journalism career as a reporter on the Newcastle Journal, before working as deputy news editor at the Newcastle Chronicle and then news editor at the Shields Gazette.

From there he moved to the now-defunct Morning News in Newcastle and then Metro International where he helped to launch newspapers in cities around the world.