THREE police officers who spent 45 minutes trying to save James Attfield’s life have been recognised for their heroic efforts.

Almost three years after the brutal murder, and following the life sentence handed down to teenage double killer James Fairweather, PCs Robert Edgar, Ben Savory and Mark Lee have been praised for their dedication in trying to keep him alive.

The citation read: “Robert, Ben and Mark attended an incident in the north of the county where a member of the public had found a man with serious injuries.

“The trio commenced CPR on the man whilst reassuring the distraught witness that had found him.

“The team made every effort to save the man’s life but he sadly died of his injuries.”

At 5.30am on March 29, 2014, a cyclist came across the 33-year-old father-of-five on the riverside path near Castle Park.

He had been stabbed 102 times.

She called police and tried to help, with Mr Attfield fighting for his life, before the three officers arrived.

PC Savory started CPR, supported by his colleagues, continuing despite the large number of wounds and slim chance of success.

They were among the six officers and three members of the public commended for acts of bravery, by Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh, on Friday.

The commendation is one of the highest accolades he can give.

Mr Kavanagh said: “We’ve got officers here who have responded to help those most in need, officers trying to save lives, officers who have dived in front of moving trains to protect distressed children and officers who have conducted complex child abuse investigations to bring offenders to justice.

“You all represent the best of British policing.”

Mr Kavanagh was joined by Brandon Lewis, minister of state for policing and Roger Hirst, police and crime commissioner for Essex.

Mr Hirst told them: “I’m always stunned by your bravery, professionalism and the way you manage to deal with extraordinary crisis in a very short and prompt space of time by resolving things and saving people’s lives.”

PC Tobias Kemp and PC Chris Aldridge were commended for risking their lives to save a teenager after finding a 13-year-old girl in great distress on a train track.

And Det Con Emma Dove was commended for her dedication during complex child abuse investigations.

She helped secure the conviction of two sex abusers including a life sentence for a man who, among his crimes, committed five counts of rape and a number of other sex assaults.