A HUMBLE hero from Leigh who saved a deer from drowning by jumping into a canal and lifting it to safety says he 'just did what anyone would do'.

Stephen McKenna, of Plank Lane, jumped into action when he saw a crowd of people watching the small deer struggling to get out of the water as he walked his dog along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Leigh on Sunday.

The 38-year-old said: “I just did what anyone would do. I could not leave it there to suffer.

“It seemed tired and very scared. It was kicking out but soon realised that I was trying to help and let me lift it up and out of the water.

“Everyone there was really encouraging and people handed me a towel and a brew afterwards, so it wasn’t that bad.”