A POLICE officer who fought to save the life of a motorist who hit a lamppost after his car overturned will receive a top honour.

Heroic Sergeant Simon Arinze was among the first on the scene after the crash, in Henwick Road, on October 31 last year.

The Worcetser officer tried to resuscitate the 78-year-old driver, who is believed to have suffered a heart attack as he travelled along the busy road.

The victim sadly later died on November 15, but Sgt Arinze’s efforts in giving the driver the best chance of survival have earned him a Royal Humane Society resuscitation certificate for his actions that day.

Society secretary Dick Wilkinson said: “Sgt Arinze administered cardiac pulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived.

“The paramedics then used a defibrillator and managed to restore the man back to breathing on his own.

“The fact they were able to do this was thanks to the efforts of PS Arinze. He richly deserves the award he is to receive.

“Sadly the driver died. But he was given the best possible chance of survival by the action of PS Arinze.”

No date has yet been fixed for the officer to receive the award.

However, it has emerged Sgt Arinze is no stranger to receiving awards for bravery and excellence.

At the beginning of last year he received a commendation having helped a man regain consciousness after he collapsed in the bathroom of his Malvern home.

On that occasion Sgt Arinze began CPR before taking turns with a colleague to administer chest compressions and give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The Royal Humane Society is a registered charity which was founded in 1774 by medical experts with a primary aim of promoting resuscitation techniques.

However, the scheme now honours bravery, too.