A POLICE constable who helped save a man s life has received an award from Herts Chief Constable Frank Whiteley. Pc Timothy Shaw, who works in Watford and lives in Harpenden, and his colleague Pc Darren Smith received the Royal Humane Society Award for re

A POLICE constable who helped save a man's life has received an award from Herts Chief Constable Frank Whiteley.

Pc Timothy Shaw, who works in Watford and lives in Harpenden, and his colleague Pc Darren Smith received the Royal Humane Society Award for reviving a man injured in a road accident last March.

After a collision on Breakspear Way, Hemel Hempstead, a car left the road and crashed into a street sign.

Pc Darren Smith was the first to arrive at the scene and found the driver of the car lying on the verge. He was in a poor state and Darren could not find a pulse so started resuscitation. The injured man started to cough and catch his breath but then stopped breathing again.

Darren resumed first aid and again got the patient breathing and his heart beating and kept him going until Pc Shaw arrived and took over.

They then took it in turns until an ambulance paramedic arrived and took the injured man to Hemel Hempstead Hospital. The paramedic later confirmed that the officers had saved the man's life and that without their prompt action, hospital treatment would have been ineffective and he would have died.