Bouncer saves life of injured clubber

Lee Kinson, 36, from Simonside, South Shields, suffered a fractured skull and bleeding to the brain after he was knocked to the ground outside the Life of Riley pub, in Mile End Road, South Shields, on New Year’s Day.

The bar’s head doorman Neil Foster,33, acted quickly – putting Mr Kinson in the recovery position, propping up his head, covering him up and keeping him talking until an ambulance arrived.

Mr Kinson, an offshore worker and father to one-year-old Ethan, said: “Neil is one hell of a bloke. I don’t know the lad but I know he did first aid and put a jacket over me.

“I was in and out of consciousness and didn’t realise how bad it was. Paramedics said that, if the people who were there hadn’t done what they did, I may not be here.

“For Neil to do what he did, I owe him a lot.”

Mr Foster, from Seaburn, Sunderland, said the drama began about 11.30pm on January 1.

He said: “A group of men and woman were fighting in the middle of the street. Lee was standing by himself when someone came along and hit him, knocking him to the ground before running away.

“I put him in the recovery position, propped his head up, put my jacket over him and kept talking to him while his wife was standing with me. I have been a doorman 13 years and seen some pretty bad things but nothing like this. Afterwards, he rang and thanked me and sent a really nice text saying I had saved his life. “

The father of two said it was overwhelming to realise he had saved Lee’s life.

He added: “When Lee mentioned to me how he also had a son, it was horrible to think what could have happened to him.

“It is an overwhelming feeling to save someone’s life.”

Chris Joyce, manager at the Life of Riley, said he was proud of his employee who, he said, is known for going above and beyond.

He said: “Neil has worked for us for six years and he is a caring lad.

“He and the other doors staff go above and beyond what they have been asked to do. This kind of thing doesn’t happen very often. I am very proud of him.”

An ambulance spokeswoman said: “We were called at 11.35pm to Mile End Road, South Shields, on January 1. We sent one ambulance and one person was taken to South Tyneside Hospital around 11.44pm.”

A police spokeswoman said; “Police were called at 11.36pm after a 36-year-old man was assaulted on Mile End Road.

“Three men – a 27-year-old and two aged 24 – were arrested in connection with the incident but have been released on bail.”

Witnesses are asked to call police on 101, quoting reference 1516010116.