THE Worcester mum who leapt into the River Severn to save her baby has spoken of her horror thinking her daughter was about to drown.

Lisa Gauler bravely jumped into the murky water after realising 17-month-old Evie had fallen through the railings by Worcester's South Quay, near Brown's Restaurant, yesterday.

The pair had been with friends playing in the water fountains when they decided they wanted to feed the swans - but seconds later little Evie had plunged into the river.

Mrs Gauler, 33, said: "It was a feeling of utter horror and disbelief that she had gone over. I just thought 'I have got to get to her as quickly as possible', so jumped in."

Mrs Gauler, of Wyld's Lane, off London Road, jumped the 10ft drop into the river before searching underwater for her baby.

"I went down quite deep. I had my eyes open under the water looking for her. I just wanted to get to her as quickly as possible.

"It went through my head what if I can't find her? I surfaced as quickly as I could and saw her lying on her back with her head out the water.

"She was crying but she wasn't coughing or spluttering and didn't look like she had swallowed any water," she added.

Mrs Gauler was able to find a small ledge in the water where she was able to stand, and was also helped by quick-thinking passers-by who threw two lifebelts.

"She is really water confident as we have been taking her swimming for months," Mrs Gauler added.

"She was really upset but I just wanted to calm her down, so I started singing to her.

"I knew if I kept calm then she would too."

She was finally rescued from the water by 19-year-old Birmingham student Ben Reynolds who had been called to help by rowing friends who witnessed the incident, who took her to the shore.

Mrs Gauler said: "When I was lying in bed last night what happened kept on running through my head, so I didn't get much sleep.

"You try to stop yourself thinking about it as you know she is alright, but you can't help thinking what if'?

"As soon as I had her in my arms I knew we would be alright. That helped me keep calm."

Mrs Gauler's mum Ann Hunt said she was just pleased they were both safe.

"I am so proud of how calm she was and Evie is quite a water baby," she added.

Mrs Gauler thanked members of the public who helped her, along with the paramedics and hospital staff who cared for them both.