A HARROW man has helped save the life of a boy who suffered internal bleeding on the brain.

Neil Bizzell, who grew up in Harrow, was part of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service that saved the life of a 14-year-old schoolboy struck on the head by a ball during cricket practice at Jo Richardson School in Dagenham.

An ambulance crew assessed the boy's condition and suspected there could be internal bleeding compressing his brain, so they called in the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.

Landing in a field next to the school, the crew, including paramedic Neil, transferred the boy to The Royal London Hospital where a CT scan confirmed the diagnosis and neurosurgeons operated to stop the bleeding. Four days later, the boy was able to go home.

Neil is now a regional finalist in the annual Vodafone Life Savers Awards.

The awards, which were launched in April, were developed to honour unsung heroes behind Britain's most remarkable lifesaving rescues - both the emergency services as well as ordinary members of the public.

Julien Cozens, from Vodafone UK, said: "Modesty is a very British trait and anyone who has shown extreme courage should be recognised. We want to make sure that acts of bravery, such as Neil Bizzell's do not go unnoticed."