TWO police officers who broke into a North Yorkshire house and battled to save a suicidal man have won national recognition.

While PC Chris Garbutt and PC Robert Spalding were unable to save the man's life, their actions allowed his family to see him alive a final time before he died.

They also meant that one of the man's organs was in a good enough condition to go to his mother, who was awaiting a donor.

The two officers have been awarded Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificates for their actions at a house in Alne, near Easingwold, and also won personal praise from society secretary Dick Wilkinson.

"Sadly the man only survived for 24 hours, but it was long enough his family to see him before he died and say their last goodbyes," he said.

"The brave actions and expert first aid of these two officers really did make a difference, even if, ultimately, the man could not be saved. They richly deserve these awards."

He said that the rescue attempt happened after a woman had reported to police that her ex partner had barricaded himself in a house, following an argument.

The officers found him hanging from the loft, cut him down and began to administer cardiac pulmonary resuscitation for about 20 minutes until an ambulance arrived, and the man was taken to hospital.

The roots of the Royal Humane Society stretch back more than two centuries. Its president is Princess Alexandra and it is the premier national body for honouring bravery in the saving of human life.

It was founded in 1774 by two of the day’s eminent medical men, William Hawes and Thomas Cogan. Their primary motive was to promote techniques of resuscitation.