This is the dramatic moment a hero teenager rescues two tourists who plunged 100ft down a bank into a raging river.

Juan Cruz Peralta, 15, was a passenger with pal Martin Vergara, 16, when they spotted the vehicle plummet into the flooded Mendoza river in Potrerillos, western Argentina, on December 2.

The pair scrambled down the steep ravine before Juan waded through the torrent and helped the two backpackers from Buenos Aires to safety.

Juan said the man had been driving but lost control and skidded off the road over the edge of the road and into the river.

He said: ‘’They were both in shock but luckily they were not seriously hurt. The car was destroyed. It was washed downstream by the river.’'

Proud mum Cecilia Sosa said: ‘’My son’s a hero. I’m so proud of him. He didn’t hesitate for a second and went over the precipice to help the couple in the crashed car.

‘’Yes, they rescued the two tourists and their belongings, too. Thank God their accident was not worse.’'