A teacher who dived into a cold lake to save a construction worker when a digger fell into the water has been given a surprise award.

Michael Righton, sculling coach and head of science at The Dragon School in Oxford, returned on Wednesday for a regatta at Eton College's rowing centre, Dorney Lake, near Windsor, where he rescued a man last December.

At the end of the regatta, children and teachers gathered to honour the 45-year-old, who has been hailed a hero by the Royal Humane Society.

He was given wooden bookends carved in the shape of a rowing boat, theatre tickets and a weekend break for two, from staff at the lake and Eton Aggregates, the firm which employs Eddie Rindtoul, 56, who was rescued.

Mr Righton, pictured above left, had been coaching scullers from The Dragon School when two girls saw a digger slide into the 5m-deep lake.

When the driver failed to reappear, Mr Righton dived in. The vehicle was nearly submerged and the cab had filled with water.

He used a hammer thrown to him from the bank and his hands to smash the window.

Mr Righton dragged Mr Rindtoul to safety before giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Mr Righton said: "I didn't think of it as brave.

"I have the training to get people out of the water. It was a matter of realising this was a real situation and getting on with it. "I'm pleased to be given these gifts, which I didn't expect.

"It was great to see the man I pulled out for the first time face-to-face.

"We talked about how the accident had affected him. He was looking very well."

Eton College nominated Mr Righton for a hero's award by the Royal Humane Society, which is to be presented at a later date.