Two men leapt into the water in the US Virgin Islands to rescue a young woman in a wheelchair who fell from a dock into the water – and were given a round of applause by onlookers.

Locals Kuntry Hamilton and Randolph Donovan are being hailed heroes after they leap into action when the young woman in a wheelchair rolled off a dock in St. Thomas.

In a video of the rescue, posted on social media, the girl is seen gripping a life ring as the men hold on to her to keep her afloat.

They were seen working together with rescuers on the dock to use a rope that had been tied around, to pull her out of the water.

The pair helped with the rescue of the woman 

The woman, who has not been identified, was a passenger on board the Carnival Fascination ship, which had stopped in St. Thomas.

The Maritime Executive reports the two men received a round of applause from onlookers and praise from USVI dignitaries.

“Job well done and thank you for your willingness to assist with this duty today!” said Kurt Vialet, of the USVI legislature, in a statement.

“I know that young lady’s family is forever grateful and we as a people are proud of you!”

Kuntry Hamilton and Randolph Donovan have been hailed as heroes

In a social media post, Donovan wrote: “I couldn’t think I just had to move real quick.

“When I see the wheelchair going under the weight and the fight that she put on me I was in a tight situation . . . thanks to [Hamilton] he was right there in the water to help.”

“Wake up this morning set and ready to go DJ on WICO Dock for the tourist coming in on the Carnival ship not knowing I will be saving a tourist life,” said Hamilton on Facebook . “Thank God we all are safe and sound.”

It comes just days after holidaymaker Jonathan Pfahl, aged in his 30s, plunged from the Symphony of the Seas as the giant vessel sailed from Saint Kitts to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.

Heroes Randolph Donovan and Kuntry Hamilton (right) celebrate with their US Virgin Island Tourism team mates 
A rescue boat was launched to save Mr Pfahl, who founded Rockstar Group, the UK’s largest entrepreneur and mentoring firm, and his body was recovered in front of horrified passengers on the Royal Caribbean ship.

The dad-of-two, a former Goldman Sachs worker originally from Sydney, Australia, was reportedly on a family holiday to celebrate his wife Lisa’s birthday when he died.