RELATIVES of a motorcyclist who nearly died after an accident are hoping to track down the woman who helped save his life.

Chris Williams, from Carlisle, was on a bike trip around Teesdale when he skidded off the B6276 outside Middleton-in-Teesdale, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, at 2.20pm on Saturday, September 22.

Mr Williams, 60, who was by himself and doing 50mph, slipped on oil or petrol on the tarmac, sending him flying off his black Honda.

The accident shattered his hip and knee and broke his thigh and shin. He ruptured an artery and was left by the side of the road, bleeding heavily.

The father-of-two only has vague recollections of the accident, but says he remembers that a group of cyclists passed him without stopping before a woman in a car pulled over.

Mr Williams' daughter ,Wendy Williams-Harrison, 28, said: "He says he could feel himself going, but this woman sat with him and comforted him until the ambulance arrived.

"She was keeping him conscious and keeping him going, talking to him and making sure he was all right. If it wasn't for her, he might not be here today."

The woman, who was with a man, left the scene when paramedics arrived to take him to hospital, where he underwent nine hours of surgery.

His family have contacted the ambulance service and police in the hope of finding the woman but have drawn a blank because she did not leave her name.

Mrs Williams-Harrison, who lives in Manchester, said: "My dad was suffering from concussion when he first came around after the accident and he couldnot even remember his family at first. But what he could remember was this woman.

"He really, really wants to find her and thank her for all her help, because she got him through his accident. His whole family would like to show her how grateful we are to her."

Mr Williams, a driver for Renault Vans, is now out of hospital and making a steady recovery.

He believes the woman was in her 30s, but cannot remember any other details about her.

Mrs Williams-Harrison said: "A week before the accident, it was my dad's 60th, and we bought him a track day at Donington Park, which has been his lifelong ambition.

"He's so thankful that he managed to do the track day as he has said that he is not going to ride bikes anymore."

Anyone with information about the woman is asked to call Will Roberts at The Northern Echo on 01833-638628 or e-mail will.roberts@nne.co.uk