SHE was faced with the most difficult situation so far in her career as an officer.

But now, Hampshire Constabulary’s PC Jo Ford and an off-duty nurse will be honoured for their bravery in saving a man’s life who was left bleeding at the side of a motorway.

PC Ford and Gill Martin, of Landrake, saved the man who had been involved in a fight on the hard shoulder of the M27, near junction three.

PC Ford was driving on the motorway when she spotted the men fighting.

When she got out, she found one of the men on the ground with blood pouring from his head and mouth.

He also had difficulty breathing.

The man believed to be responsible for the attack was still at the scene and PC Ford, who is based in Lyndhurst, tried to assist the injured man who appeared to be having a seizure.

Meanwhile, PC Ford was also trying to call emergency services and cope with the suspected attacker and witnesses.

Suddenly, Mrs Martin came running down the hard

shoulder shouting she was a nurse before administering first aid.

Now PC Ford has been awarded the Royal Humane Society Testimonial on vellum, while Mrs Martin will receive the same but on parchment. Each will be signed by the organisation’s president, Princess Alexandra.

PC Ford described the incident as the “most stressful” she had ever encountered.

She said: “The injured man was suffering, from what I could tell, with a serious head injury and we were alongside a busy motorway.

“I would like to thank the member of the public that put herself at risk to help. She identified herself to me as a nurse and gave me much needed support.

“The other officers on my shift also came to my aid as quickly as they could.”

Chief Inspector Simon

Tribe also commended the pair’s efforts for “putting

their own safety at risk to help save the life of the injured person”.

The incident took place on June 4, when police were called to a report of an assault on the hard shoulder between junctions three and two on the M27 westbound.

It was reported that an incident had occurred between two vehicles, a red VW Golf estate and a silver VW Amarok.

A 27-year-old man from Farnham was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and a 37-year-old man from Bishop’s Waltham was arrested on suspicion of affray in relation to the incident.

Both were released from custody and still remain under investigation.

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the awards which follow recommendations from Hampshire police but it is expected to take place in the near future.

The roots of the Royal Humane Society stretch back more than two centuries. It is the premier national body for honouring bravery in the saving of human life.