A policeman who put his own life in danger to rescue a drowning man is to receive two life-saving awards.

PC Paul Faulkner, 35, of South Street, Crook, County Durham, triumphed over his own personal health problems to save a man from a hotel pool in Crete while he was on holiday last year.

The officer is to receive a Royal Humane Society testimonial on parchment and a resuscitation certificate.

At the time of the incident he was under daily medication for an under-active thyroid gland which left him weak and liable to become breathless after a short period of exertion.

But the award says he carried out the rescue and revival on October 2 despite his own problems.

The 52-year old man who almost drowned had been sunbathing in the hotel grounds. Then, at about 2pm, he dived into the unheated pool, immediately got into difficulties and became disorientated. He panicked and swallowed a quantity of water.

PC Faulkner was sunbathing nearby and realised what was happening. He immediately dived into the water and grabbed the man, who struggled and tried to pull them both to the bottom of the pool.

The officer retained his grip and, when the man fell unconscious he managed to bring him to the surface.

The man was not breathing, so the constable administered external heart massage and expelled a large quantity of water from the man's lungs.

PC Faulkner put him in the recovery position and stayed with him until he regained consciousness.

The victim, who has not been identified in the citation, declined medical attention until seeing his own GP on his return to England.

In addition to the award, PC Faulkner also won the personal praise of Major General Christopher Tyler, secretary of the Royal Humane Society.

Speaking at the society's London headquarters, he said: "It was a remarkable rescue for a man suffering from such a condition as an under-active thyroid.

"PC Faulkner had to swim out 15ft, then struggle underwater with this man before ultimately pulling him to safety. In his condition, this exercise could easily have put him in grave danger, yet he selflessly risked his own safety to save another man's life. He richly deserves his award."

No date has yet been arranged for presentation of the second award, which has been made on the recommendation of the Chief Constable of Durham Police, but it is expected to take place in the near future.

The Royal Humane Society, whose president is Princess Alexandra, was originally formed by a group of London doctors in 1774 and is the leading UK organisation responsible for honouring lifesavers and those who have been involved in heroic rescue incidents.