A DOCTOR spoke yesterday of how he saved the life of a man found clinically dead in the street after he was attacked.

Chris Gregory, 57, was beaten unconscious by a gang of youths in December when he confronted them over the alleged theft of a crate of lager in Beckfield Lane, Acomb, York.

Dr Andrew Field, who works at The Surgery, in Clifton, was in Beckfield Lane on his way to another call when he saw Mr Gregory on the pavement.

Dr Field said Mr Gregory was clinically dead when he went to treat him, and that he had never seen a recovery like it in 13 years of practice.

He performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, while driver Richard Peters, who was trained in first-aid, gave Mr Gregory five shocks with a defibrillator.

Dr Field said: "If it gets to more than two or three shocks, you are thinking the heart will not start again.

"It was important we arrived when we did. He had been very badly beaten around the face, and blood was pouring out of his nose. The first thing I said was, 'This man is dying'."

Mr Gregory paid tribute to Dr Field for saving his life. He said: "I would have died if it had not been for him, there is no doubt about it. God bless him and thank God that he was there."

Dr Field said the fact he was able to help save Mr Gregory showed the value of the North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors service, which he fears could be facing cutbacks.

Several youths are on police bail in connection with the attack.