DENVER -- Three people who came together to help a quadriplegic survive a fall into Berkley Lake were honored Wednesday as Daniels Neighborhood hero award winners.

One of them, Denver public works employee Edward Santos, was only there by chance.

Jo Bullock, a care giver with the group of disabled people touring the lake, and Denver fire captain Dave Hart, were all ready trying to pull 43-year-old Dan Briney out of the water. But Briney, a quadriplegic since birth, was still tethered to his 88 pound motorized wheelchair.

Santos was driving his public works recycling truck onto Interstate 70 east from Sheridan Boulevard when he saw the commotion, stopped the truck, jumped a five foot fence and jumped in the water. At first, he wasn't sure how to view his actions but now believes he is a hero.

"It's sinking in. I'm glad I did what I did. I got some trash from the guys at work but a lot of my co-workers tell me I did a good job," Santos said.

Representative from the Bill Daniels Fund awarded Santos and his two other fellow heroes' with plaques and checks for $500 each.

"Getting a check like that, I didn't expect it at all. I figured a plaque … that would be cool. I never got a plaque before in my life," said Santos.

Santos also got a chance to meet Walter Briney, father of the quadriplegic. "Isn't that wonderful, that a person like that cares enough to do what he did? He jumped the fence, he jumped into the lake. He took great personal risk to help." Briney said.

Briney's son suffered cuts to his forehead but other than that is OK.