Two police officers who halted a man's suicide attempt are to get bravery awards.

An 18-year-old was spotted wading out to sea near The Spa, at Scarborough, North Yorkshire, by a passer-by, who alerted police.

PCs Paul Duffield and PC Paul Long found the youth, thought to be from the Far East, slumped on rocks in the South Bay with multiple knife wounds to his chest.

PC Duffield and PC Long, a probationer who has been in the police service only five months, carried out life saving first aid.

Inspector Paul Warner of Scarborough police said: "It appears the man stabbed himself in a suicide attempt. When the two officers found him, he was bleeding from the chest but, by using prompt emergency first aid and putting their hands on his chest to stem the flow of blood, they undoubtedly saved his life.

"They are to be commended for their prompt action and their names are being put forward for bravery awards".

After undergoing emergency surgery at Scarborough General Hospital, the man was transferred to Castle Hill Hospital, at Cottingham, when his condition was last night described as stable.