TONY Cardigan is probably the last person who would let himself be called a hero - even though he has twice saved people from drowning.

For on the two occasions the 66-year-old, from Hill Coppice near Whiteley, has found himself near someone in trouble he has acted to help them without a thought for himself.

But although the grandfather of three, pictured right, plays down his heroics he is curious to learn what happened to the people he saved.

Fifty years ago, aged 16, Tony was strolling with some friends in Bitterne Park Rec in Southampton when they stumbled across a crowd looking at something in the River Itchen.

Tony heard a lad say: "I think she's had it."

Thinking the boy must have been talking about a football, he scanned the water but was shocked to realise assembled onlookers were watching a four-year-old girl drowning.

He said: "Before I knew it I was in the water. Don't ask me how or why you do these things. It was a little girl with just the back of her head above the water.

"It just so happened a bloke with a rowing boat was going past so I asked him to take her on board and give her first aid.

"He did that and passed her back. I carried her up to her house and left her. It was job done.

"But when I saw the story mentioned in a newspaper cutting the other day I just wondered what had happened to the young girl.

"If she was still alive she'd be 12 years younger than me. If I found out she had survived and lived a normal life I would be thrilled." A few years later history repeated itself when Tony once again plunged into the water while crowds of people stood and watched an unconscious car driver slowly sink into the River Itchen near the White Swan Pub in Old Mansbridge.

Tony said: "I jumped into the water. It was February so my first thought was how freezing the water was. Another guy was already in there, then a third man on shore threw us a rope and we were able to tie the car to a tree to stop it going under."

When Hampshire police appealed for the anonymous heroes to step forward they were deluged with calls from 40 fraudsters claiming they had carried out the rescues.

Tony said: "The police believed it was me and the other fellow because our accounts of the incident were identical."

Speaking on his actions, Tony said: "It's just something you do. I don't claim any credit for it. I just did it without thinking."

Are you the young girl rescued by Tony 50 years ago? Or do you know her? If so call the newsdesk at the Daily Echo on 023 8042 4522.