David Hasselhoff is hoping to meet with a hero student police officer nicknamed “The Hoff” after he saw a video of the Pc jumping into freezing water to save a man in Greater Manchester.
The actor, who played head lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in Baywatch, was alerted to officer Mohammed Nadeem’s heroics when Hardy’s Gate Bridge in Bury became the scene of a rescue that could have come straight out of the classic 90s TV show.
The student police officer showed nerves of steel to brave the bracing temperatures of the River Irwell to assist a man in distress, thus earning himself the nickname “The Hoff” by colleagues.
Hasselhoff, who also starred in 80s television series Knight Rider, praised the student officer, dubbing Pc Nadeem as “the new Hoff”.
The actor added: “The real heroes are the ones who act on instinct without hesitation, the ones who believe that we all can help each other.
“I want to meet the real heroes and say, ‘Good on you. Let me shake your hand’… ‘One man can make a difference’ is the theme of Knight Rider, this student police officer made the difference. So cool, so proud. Give it up for Mohammed, the new Hoff.”
The incident occurred on Saturday when police were called to the River Irwell after a man fell into the river.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and teams from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene but on seeing the man in the water, Pc Nadeem, who reportedly cannot swim, jumped 8ft into the river.
He was able to grab hold of the man and drag him to safety, where he was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital to receive treatment, GMP said.
After the rescue, superintendent Rick Jackson, of GMP’s Bury Borough, said: “Without hesitation, Pc Nadeem dived off an 8ft drop into freezing, deep and fast-moving water. The man is now safe and receiving the treatment he needs.
“I’d like to commend Pc Nadeem’s actions which were a prime example of why people join the force – to protect people and make sure they are away from harm.”
Hasselhoff’s publicist confirmed the actor will be the UK in mid-March, when he hopes he can personally praise the officer, before heading to Germany for a series of concert dates.