Fan plunges into river to rescue Gayle six

Chris Gayle's arrival at Somerset for a brief period in the NatWest T20 Blast has certainly brought excitement, with one spectator braving chilly temperatures to dive into the river to rescue one of his mammoth sixes.

@SomersetCCC #bestinthewest pic.twitter.com/8q6CmwQWis

— Harry Compton (@HarryCompton_) May 31, 2015

Gayle struck the third-highest Twenty20 score in English cricket history at Taunton on Sunday night, including 15 sixes, although he still finished on the losing side as Kent's century-maker Sam Northeast proved to be the decisive factor.

But even defeat did not stop one fan from deciding he would strip down and take a swim to retrieve a souvenir after Gayle's 15th and final boundary saw the ball clear the stand and land in the River Tone that flows past the Taunton ground.

@SomersetCCC I went and got it! #BloodyCold pic.twitter.com/E1jPJVx25m

— Martin Bullock (@MartinDB07) May 31, 2015

Martin Bullock, of St Austell in Cornwall, described the water as "bloody cold" on Twitter and had Gayle sign the ball following the match. Gayle was clearly impressed and tweeted: "Hats off to you champ."

@henrygayle @HarryCompton_ @SomersetCCC Thanks for signing it too boss - and well batted! pic.twitter.com/qBupJNlhYx

— Martin Bullock (@MartinDB07) June 1, 2015

With Gayle around, it is fortunate that the forecast in England is for rising temperatures.