AN off-duty police sergeant who joined in a life and death fight to save a Redditch man involved in a horror accident is to receive a top national life-saving honour.

PS Robin Barker was on his way home from a 12 hour night shift when he spotted the accident in the Callow Hill area of town on December 12 last year.

He spent half an hour with a paramedic administering cardiac pulmonary resuscitation to the man whose heart had stopped and eventually they managed to re-start it.

The accident happened as the man drove his car out of the garage and then got out.

The car moved and he became trapped by his head and body against the garage wall.

Sadly although his heart was re-started he died in hospital after eight days in intensive care.

But PS Barker is to receive a Royal Humane Society resuscitation certificate for bringing him back from the brink of death on the day.

In addition to the award he also won the personal praise of Dick Wilkinson, secretary of the Royal Humane Society.

As he announced the award at the Society’s London headquarters earlier this week he said : “It was a horrific accident and PS Barker came upon it by chance. He spotted the paramedic moving the victim and stopped to assist.

“Tragically the man died just over a week later, but the efforts of PS Barker helped give him the best possible chance of surviving. He richly deserves the award that has been made to him.”

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the award, which has been made following a recommendation from West Midlands Police, but it is expected to take place in the near future.

The roots of the Royal Humane Society stretch back more 200 years.

It was founded in 1774 to promote techniques of resuscitation.

However, as it emerged that numerous people were prepared to put their own lives at risk to save others, the awards scheme evolved, and today a variety of awards are made depending on the bravery involved.