A NURSE who was hailed as a hero after helping to save the lives of car crash victims was struck off the register yesterday after being found guilty of misconduct.

The case of father-of-three David Garthwaite, 38, of Southgate, Hartlepool, came before the UK Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting's professional conduct committee.

He was found to have neglected to give a patient at the University Hospital of Hartlepool a prescribed dose of painkilling drugs, then leaving them in his uniform pocket.

This was only 18 months after receiving praise for his swift actions in resuscitating accident victims following a multiple collision outside his home in March 1998.

Mr Garthwaite admitted leaving the drugs in his pocket instead of locking them away, but told the committee that he had remembered to give the unnamed patient a 2am dose of Tramadol on the night of September 26, 1999.

But the allegation was found proved after it emerged that no one saw him administer the drug.

He said: "At the time, we were very busy. I had a call to say we were getting a new patient and these were all contributing factors, while I was trying to help an inexperienced member of staff as well."

Committee chairman Elizabeth Rush, removing Mr Garthwaite from the register with immediate effect, said: "The committee have given careful consideration to the charges and have some sympathy for the personal circumstances that the nurse had experienced.

"However, the remit is to protect the public and Mr Garthwaite has not demonstrated that he is a safe practitioner."