There was an ebb tide and strong currents and he put his own life on the line to save these two girls.....He thoroughly deserves this award

Christopher Tyler, Royal Humane Society

The sportsman-turned-BBC broadcaster was on holiday in west Wales last summer, when the incident occurred.

He was with his own three children at Tresaith Beach, Cardigan, when he spotted a panic-stricken mother at the water's edge.

Her daughters, aged seven and 11, were drifting out to sea on a rubber ring which was losing air.

Mr Davies dived in and swam against strong currents to reach them 100 yards from the beach.

Then he fought his way to the safety of some rocks with the two girls in tow.

I just did what anyone would have done in the same situation - I didn't think twice about it

Former rugby star Jonathan Davies

The only clue to the identity of the mother and her daughters was a thank you card left in a beach shop on the seafront.

The card revealed that the mother had no idea of the identity of the hero who saved her daughters.

She thought he might have been a surfer.

The message thanked "the kind surfer who brought my two little girls back to safety" and was signed Tracey (mum), Katie and Rhiannon.

'More important'

Now Mr Davies's bravery has won further praise from Royal Human Society Secretary Christopher Tyler.

Announcing the award, he said: "Jonathan Davies has achieved much in his glorious sporting career, but he can have made few surges on the rugby field more important than the one he made to come to the aid of these two girls.

"There was an ebb tide and strong currents and he put his own life on the line to save these two girls.

"Anyone, however fit, who goes into seas such as these deserves full praise for their courage. He thoroughly deserves this award."

Mother 'panicked'

Mr Davies, however, was more modest about his efforts.

The former rugby legend - who was left bringing up three children when his wife Karen died of cancer in 1997 - said anyone would have done the same.

"I just did what anyone would have done in the same situation - I didn't think twice about it," he said. "I have young children of my own."

Mr Davies said he had been carrying his son's surfboard from the water when he saw a woman at the water's edge looking as if she was panicking.

'Tiring'

"She asked me if I could get her two little girls who were drifting out to sea," he said.

"I managed to swim out to them and they were on a semi-deflated rubber ring.

"It was tiring because the tide was going out, but I got to them in time.

"They were crying and quite upset, so it was good to get them back to their mother."