A FIVE-year-old girl has described her uncle as her “hero” after he dramatically saved her life when she fell into a river.Relieved Grace Miller is back safe and sound at her home in Beyton, near Bury St Edmunds, just a week after she was rescued by Brian Calver, an off-duty police officer.

Dave Gooderham

A FIVE-year-old girl has described her uncle as her “hero” after he dramatically saved her life when she fell into a river.

Relieved Grace Miller is back safe and sound at her home in Beyton, near Bury St Edmunds, just a week after she was rescued by Brian Calver, an off-duty police officer.

Grace's parents led the tributes to Pc Calver who spotted the youngster had fallen seven feet into the River Lark while on a family day out.

Grace, a pupil at Rougham Primary School, told the EADT: “I just want to say thank you to Uncle Brian. He is my hero.”

The drama unfolded last Sunday near West Stow when Grace was fishing for crayfish with her parents, Mark and Victoria, three-year-old sister, Caitlin, and Pc Calver and his two children, Chloe, 10, and eight-year-old Ben.

Grace fell from a bridge into the river and the strong current pushed the helpless youngster towards a weir until her uncle jumped in and pulled her out.

Mrs Miller said: “What can you say about Brian? He saved my daughter's life and we will never be able to thank him enough for what he did.

“He is very blasé about the whole thing and has looked to play it down. But to us he is a hero and fortunately, Grace is fine.”

The youngster, who suffered scratches and grazes when she slipped, has also written a thank-you letter to her uncle, who is based at Bury's traffic policing unit.

Pc Calver, 35, said: “I heard a splash and saw Grace in the water. The current was very strong because of the heavy rain and I could see her getting washed downstream, heading for a weir.

“Police training tells you the last thing you should do in water rescue is enter the water yourself, but I had to jump in and bring her to safety - it's what anyone else would have done.”

Mr Miller said: “My two daughters are my absolute life, they mean everything to me and I can't repay Brian enough for what he did.”