A GOOD Samaritan today told of how he tried desperately to help a dying Horwich cyclist as he cradled his head in his arms.

Mark Chadwick had rushed to help moments after Andrew Stuchbury, aged 33, was badly injured following an accident on Chorley New Road in Horwich.

He has been praised in person by the family of Mr Stuchbury for trying to keep him alive after they appealed for him to come forward through the Bolton Evening News.

Mr Chadwick also revealed today that he had suddenly realised he knew Mr Stuchbury moments after rushing to help.

Mr Chadwick, 29, of Scholes Bank, Horwich, had cradled Mr Stuchbury's badly injured head while an off-duty nurse and a doctor from a nearby surgery tried to keep him alive.

Trained in first aid, Mr Chadwick then helped to put Mr Stuchbury in the recovery position.

It was only when he heard someone shouting for Mr Stuchbury's wife, Wendy, that he realised he knew the seriously injured man.

Mr Chadwick said: "He was bleeding heavily and unconscious. I was trying to keep his head steady.

"The only thing we could do for him was to keep his airways clear and put him in the recovery position and keep him comfortable until the paramedics arrived.

"It was only when I heard somebody shout to go and get Wendy that I realised who he was. I was shocked."

Mr Stuchbury died in the Royal Bolton Hospital's intensive care unit less than 24 hours later.

He had been riding home on his mountain bike from work when he was involved in a collision with a car at the junction of Chorley New Road and Hartley Street on Wednesday evening, just yards from his home.

Mr Stuchbury was well-known in Horwich for his impressions of comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown.

Mr Chadwick, a manager for a cable laying company, also knew him because their sons -- one aged four the other aged five -- are in the same class at St Catherine's Primary School, Horwich.

The family of Mr Stuchbury had appealed through the BEN for the mystery first aider to come forward after he was seen helping at the scene.

They thanked him for his quick actions in running forward to help just moments after the accident.

Mr Chadwick added: "You can't turn a blind eye, not when somebody is in need. You do what you can. You don't think, you just go and do it."

A Horwich man has appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving.