Three Norwich police officers who battled to bring a stricken man back from the brink of death are to receive national life-saving honours for their heroic actions.

PC Graham Green, PCSO Joseph Clark and PC David Abeyta fought to save the 33-year-old, who was discovered slumped and not breathing on steps outside Bethel Street Police Station, where they are based.

PC Green, 39, used cardiac pulmonary resuscitation on the man, while PCSO Joseph Clark, 30, carried out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

PC Abeyta, a trained medic, prepared a defibrillator to use on the man, but his eyes flickered and he started breathing again, before paramedics and an ambulance crew arrived to take him to hospital.

All three officers are to receive Royal Humane Society resuscitation certificates.

The drama unfolded on the afternoon of April 25, as the officers were starting their shift. Assistant chief constable Nick Dean had spotted the man and was on the telephone to paramedics, having checked the man and finding no vital signs.

Mr Clark, who has been with the force for nearly eight years, said: 'The man was lying at a pretty bizarre angle on the steps, so the first thing we did was lift him off onto the floor.

'Graham was doing CPR and then I was doing mouth to mouth resuscitation. I'd been on a first aid refresher course just a couple of weeks before. You really do sort of zone out and get on with it.

'It was happening really quickly, maybe only about five minutes, but suddenly his eyes flickered and I just felt so relieved.'

PC Green, who has been a police officer for 10 years, said: 'If it had been any of my colleagues they would have done the same thing.

'I know the man is okay, because I've seen him around Norwich since, although I've not spoken to him. I suspect it's not something he'd want to be reminded of.

'I've had a couple of occasions when I've done CPR and the result has not been the same, so I'm pleased the outcome was good this time.'

Dick Wilkinson, secretary of the Royal Humane Society, said: 'Thankfully the response was more or less instant in this incident. Police officers were on hand to act at once the moment the assistant chief constable raised the alarm.

'They did a wonderful job in resuscitating the man who began breathing again without the need for the defibrillator to be used. They richly deserve the awards they are to receive.'

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the awards.

• Do you owe somebody thanks for saving your life? Call Dan Grimmer on 01603 772375 or email dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk