HEROIC Royal Marine Mark Davey has received a top commendation for saving a man's life in a road accident.

The 39-year-old, from Radcliffe, has been praised by the Commandant General of the Royal Marines for his "unselfish and decisive actions".

Mr Davey serves with the International Military Police Security Section in Holland where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

He was driving home on January 11 after completing a night shift when he came across a serious traffic accident.

A heavy goods vehicle had hit a pedestrian, causing severe head and internal injuries.

The man was lying in the road bleeding heavily while the driver of the lorry was in a state of shock.

Mr Davey, a former pupil of Radcliffe Secondary School, took charge of the incident and persuaded the lorry driver to contact the emergency services while he began giving life-saving first-aid to the injured man.

When the civilian Dutch police arrived, they were so impressed with his control of the situation they allowed him to carry on administering first-aid until the ambulance arrived while they were able to deal with other aspects of the accident.

The emergency services say Mr Davey's swift and level- headed action was the deciding factor in saving the man's life.

His mother Vera, said: "We're all so proud of him and his dad, who was a Marine, would have been delighted."

Originally Mr Davey was a bricklayer and did not apply to join the Royal Marines until the week before his 27th birthday, the cut-off age for applications. He passed out in 1992.

Besides his late father being a Marine, Mr Davey's aunt, uncle and brother Peter, all served as Marines.

He was presented with the CINC Allied Forces North European Commendation by Lt Gen Hartmut Mode at a special ceremony.

"He's very modest and laid-back about it all, but I think something like this deserves recognition," said Mrs Davey.