The heroic men who gave CPR to biker injured in A259 crash

Passing motorist Chris Merritt, 30, and Mark Nichols, also 30, who was working nearby, rushed to give CPR to the motorcyclist after he was in collision with a van at the junction of Wellington Road and Church Road, Portslade, yesterday.

The pair described the horrific moment they were met with a lifeless figure on the road who "wasn't breathing", in the middle of rush hour traffic.

Making the quick decision to perform CPR, Chris and Mark took turns and pounded on the biker's chest for 30 minutes until ambulance crews arrived.

"I jumped out of the car and ran over," Chris told The Argus.

The crash site

"We made the decision to take his helmet off and start CPR after seeing his eyes were wide open and he had no pulse.

"I'm not a hero, I did what any person would do".

Several paramedics, including the air ambulance, arrived while officers locked down the scene to investigate the cause of the accident.

The biker lay on the road for almost three hours before paramedics were confident he was stable enough to be taken to hospital.

During that time, Chris and Mark assisted first responders who "drained blood from his chest" and gave him a tracheotomy.

Chris, left and Mark, right

Mark, who was working when he heard the thump of the collision, said the junction was a "death trap".

He said: "I was at work across the road and I heard the bang.

"I saw Chris checking him over and ran across the road.

"Every day I see people flying down the road. There needs to be a speed camera at the junction."

The man driving the van, a 34-year-old from Southwick, was arrested by police for drug driving following the collision.

The busy seafront road remained closed for most of the day while Sussex Police investigated the crash.

A force spokesman said: "Just before 8.25am on Wednesday, emergency services were called to a collision between a van and a motorcycle at the junction of the A259 Wellington Road and Church Road, Portslade.

"The A259 was closed in the immediate vicinity for the incident to be attended to.

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"A 34-year-old man from Southwick has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs over the specified limit.

"He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

A spokesman from the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) said: "I can confirm that Secamb was called at approximately 8.25am today to reports of a collision involving a vehicle and a motorbike on the A259, Wellington Road, Portslade.

"Ambulance crews attended and were joined at the scene by the air ambulance service.

"The motorcyclist was treated before being taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital by road in a serious condition."