A POLICE officer who saved the life of a motorcyclist involved in a horrific accident has been praised by St John Ambulance staff.

County Durham traffic officer Steve Dowdle, 43, was first on the scene when the biker careered into a central barrier on the A1(M) near Darlington in April 2003, during a police chase.

His leg was severed, he was in severe shock and bleeding heavily.

The officer stemmed the flow, dressed the wound and reassured the man, a 25-year-old from Scotland, until paramedics arrived.

The man was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. He now walks with a false leg.

Doctors said the man was near death when he arrived at hospital, and might have died had it not been for the officer's actions.

The police officer was commended by the chief medical officer of St John Ambulance.

The biker was seen by Northumbria Police driving erratically near the Angel of the North, at Gateshead, and the matter was passed to Durham Police.

During the resulting chase, he travelled at up to 120mph, and was given a suspended sentence when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court for offences arising from the pursuit.