A NEWTON Aycliffe airman has been rewarded for saving a man's life.

Corporal Sean Reece has been presented with an Air Officer Commendation after providing life-saving medical treatment to a man who had collapsed in the street.

Corporal Reece, who is stationed in Lincolnshire, was with colleague Corporal John Evans in Lincoln when they saw a group of people standing around an unconscious man in the street. The two men dispersed the crowd, controlled traffic and carried out first aid on the man.

He regained consciousness but refused medical assistance so the two men offered to drive him to a taxi rank.

But while in their car, the man lost consciousness again and the two corporals gave him more first aid as they took him straight to hospital.

After treatment the man recovered but hospital staff said he would have died if the airmen had not helped and both have now received the airforce commendation.

Corp Reece, a former Spennymoor Comprehensive pupil, said: "Although I feel John and I were just doing our job it is fantastic to receive recognition or our actions that night.