Paul Parry, 32, from Aberystwyth, was sent to Parc Prison in Bridgend, earlier this year for five-and-a-half years, after pleading guilty to conspiring to supply heroin.

But he has been awarded a British Humane Society Bravery Award for saving the life of a 15-year-old girl who had fallen 30ft from the town's jetty during treacherous weather in January 2002.

Mr Parry's father, David, will also get a Bronze Medal from the RHS for saving the girl's life and protecting her from 10-ft high waves and gale force winds.

I don't feel like I did anything particularly brave because my father and I are fishermen and we have no fear of the sea Paul Parry

They will both also receive a certificate signed by the society's president, Princess Alexandra.

The pair were recommended for the award by the girl's father and coastguard George Crumper.

Horrific injuries

"The girl was in a very poor condition and I have no doubt that what the Parry's did saved her life," said Mr Crumper.

The girl fell from the concrete jetty at the entrance to the harbour on 20 January 2002 and was spotted by the Parrys on the rocks below where she was being struck by large waves.

They climbed down to her and found that she had horrific injuries.

They picked her up and carried her back as far as they could.

But because of her injuries they could not get her up the rocks to safety.

The girl fell 30 feet into Aberystwyth harbour

They protected the girl for 40 minutes while continually being hit by waves and dashed against the rocks and nearly being swept out to sea.

The conditions were so bad that a lifeboat sent out to reach them was hit by a large wave and overturned.

Eventually the Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team arrived and lowered a stretcher.

The girl was then taken to hospital and is still under-going surgery as a result of her injuries.

"I don't feel like I did anything particularly brave because my father and I are fishermen and we have no fear of the sea," said Paul Parry.

"I am very honoured to get this award but there was no one braver than the girl herself because of what she had to go through."

PC Tudor also won an award after another incident at the harbour

Major General Christopher Tyler, the Royal Humane Society's secretary said: " We have never presented the medal in prison before.

"The prison governor will let us conduct the ceremony in the prison and I am sure Mr Parry's father would like to be presented with the medal at the same time."

Major General Tyler also praised the actions of the pair in saving the girl.

"Without this brave father and son's intervention she would not have survived.

"Theirs was a remarkable feat of bravery and endurance, for which the girl's family will remain forever grateful.

"Their modesty matches their courage and I am delighted to give them one of our most prestigious and rarely-awarded bronze medals."

This is the second time this year a bravery award has been given after an incident at Aberystwyth harbour.

In May, PC Simon Tudor also received a bronze award from the RHS after tackling a dangerous sea current to save a woman who was threatening to commit suicide.