IT is usually patients who have their lives saved every day at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital.

But a doctor and an administrator at the hospital were yesterday presented with an award, thanking them for saving the life of one of its managers who came close to choking to death on her lunch break.

Mandy Bruce was eating her lunch in the office and started to choke on a piece of meat.

Georgina Foster, postgraduate services administrator, and Zak Waqaruddin, a senior house officer in intensive care, carried out the Heimlich manoeuvre, thumping Ms Bruce on her back, helping her to breathe and saving her life.

Ms Bruce, an assistant postgraduate services manager, said: "I would not be here today if it was not for Georgina and Zak, as if they had not been in the office I would probably have died.

"Words cannot express how grateful I am and I wanted to nominate them for a special thank-you award, which they truly deserve."

Glenys Marriott, chairwoman of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, made the award to the two lifesavers.

She said: "We give thank-you awards to a small number of staff at the trust each year, to reward them for work above and beyond the call of their normal duties and to recognise their dedication and commitment.

"We are very proud of Georgina and Zac and how they calmly handled a very difficult and life-threatening situation. We are delighted to reward their outstanding achievement with a thank-you award which is well earned."