A BRAIN surgeon and his son have saved a man's life while trying to keep a royal appointment.

Neurosurgeon Fred Nath was trekking through the Himalayas on his way to be decorated with the Suprabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu by the king of Nepal for his contribution to neurosurgery, when he stumbled across a British man on the edge of unconsciousness, suffering severe altitude sickness.

The Middlesbrough consultant was taking his son, Alex, 25, with him, and between them they saved the man's life.

While Alex stayed with the sick climber, his father went for life-saving drugs, directing the Sherpas to organise a stretcher and carry their patient to the nearest village.

Their route lay down a mountain path above a steep precipice.

When the sick man had recovered enough to sit on horseback, the Naths and their guides then set out with him to another village, which was three hours away. Mr Nath followed behind while Alex led the horse in the dark, their way lit only by the light on his headband.

Mr Nath said: "It wasn't quite what we expected but we worked together well and managed to get him to where he could be flown to safety in Kathmandu.

"Sadly, altitude sickness claims lives every year and these tragedies are entirely preventable."

He added: "I was very impressed with Alex. He stayed calm and dealt with the situation extremely well."

Alex, a senior house officer at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, said: "We were amazed to find this guy on his own. It just shows the importance of staying in a group when you're trekking. Anything can happen.

"I'm just glad we were in the right place at the right time for this guy and everything worked out well."

His father is only the second doctor from outside Nepal to be honoured by the King of Nepal in his birthday honours list.

A keen trekker, Mr Nath has forged links with Nepal and its people, helping colleagues perform brain surgery and sending medical equipment to the country.