A BORDERS biker has met with the two paramedics who saved him.

Michael Hallsworth was left fighting for his life after a horror crash near Kelso in the summer.

The 64-year-old retired electrical supervisor smashed into a roadside telecom box after being knocked from his bike.

As well as suffering broken ribs and a broken shoulder, the dad-of-two also punctured a lung.

He was saved after a fast-acting team from the Scottish Ambulance Service managed to re-inflate his lungs at the scene, allowing him to breathe.

Michael spent six days in hospital recovering from the crash.

He told us: "When I woke up in hospital the next day, the doctors said if not for the intervention of the paramedics, I would not have survived.

"I was told my lung had collapsed and they had saved my life."

Michael was speaking for first time about the horror crash after meeting up with the Scottish Ambulance Service team of Guy Anderson and Stuart Hogg – both based at Kelso Ambulance Station – that saved his life.

He continued: "I was on my way to Hawick when I came past the racecourse at Kelso.

"That is the last thing I can actually remember but apparently just past there, I overtook a car and the car turned right into me and knocked me off. I can’t remember a thing after that.

"The next thing I remember is waking up in the Intensive Care Unit the following day.

"When I woke up, the nurse asked me if I knew where I was.

"My reply to that was ‘I must be in the Borders General Hospital’, because of the surroundings, but I couldn’t remember how I got there and that’s when she told me I had been in an accident."

Despite having no recollection of the crash, which happened on July 17, a police report provided the details.

Michael explained: "I was following a car, the car slowed down, indicated and then turned right – by that time I was almost past him.

"The car hit the pannier on the back of the bike, which knocked me off and I hit a telecom box by the side of the road, which is what did all the damage.”

This week Michael met up with Guy and Stuart at his Chirnside home.

Guy told us: "It wasn’t until 24 hours later that we found out the true extent of his injuries.

"It was lovely to meet Michael and see he’s and making a full recovery; it’s always gratifying when we get thanked for what we do.”

Michael added: “I can’t be thankful enough, because they saved my life that day.

"I have always been in awe of paramedics, anyway; I believe they do an absolutely fantastic job and don’t always get the recognition they should.

"It’s great to get the opportunity to thank them to their face.”