FIVE police officers who battled to save the life of father who had been stabbed have been praised for their bravery.

They were called to Burtons Court in Horsham after Anthony Williams, right, had been stabbed in a “short, merciless, and vicious” revenge attack.

London drug dealers Nicholas Bridge and Daniel Onofeghare were jailed for murder and manslaughter respectively.

Mr Williams, 36, a father of three, suffered multiple deep wounds at the hands of Bridge, 19, while Onofeghare, 20, threatened others with a knife to stop them from intervening.

Police battled for 45 minutes to stop the bleeding and resuscitate him as he lay unconscious and bleeding in the blood-soaked flat.

For their dedication they were presented with top awards by the Royal Humane Society.

Society secretary Andrew Chapman said there were used needles in the flat and a risk of blood contamination to the officers.

He said: “They did not know where the person who had carried out the stabbing was.

“This was potentially a dangerous and very disturbing scene.

“Police are all too frequently confronted with horrific scenarios but this was certainly an extremely bad one.

The five officers did their best for the man.”