TWO members of the public battled desperately to save the life of an 81-year-old man who was in collision with a motorbike, it emerged today.The elderly man, who lived in the area, suffered fatal injuries in the accident and died shortly after arriving at hospital.

TWO members of the public battled desperately to save the life of an 81-year-old man who was in collision with a motorbike, it emerged today.

The elderly man, who lived in the area, suffered fatal injuries in the accident and died shortly after arriving at hospital. It is believed he attempted to cross Heath Road, close to the entrance of Ipswich Hospital, at about 6.20pm on Thursday when the collision with the Red Honda motorcycle happened. The motorbike then collided with a telegraph pole and a wall.

A nearby neighbour heard a loud bang and ran out of his front door to see both the motorcyclist and the elderly man injured. He discovered the pensioner was in a critical condition and began to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. An off-duty nurse from the hospital also joined him, giving the pensioner chest compressions until paramedics arrived.

The resident, who did not wished to be named, said: “I heard a very loud impact and went to look outside. I went to the motorcyclist first because there was no one else around him at the time whereas there were some people by the other gentleman. I could tell the other gentleman was more injured so I went over to him and started giving him mouth-to-mouth.

“There was a nurse there as well and she was giving him chest compressions. She was excellent. The ambulance arrived very quickly and they took him away.”

The man's family have since been informed about the tragedy and an inquest will take place in due course.

The motorcyclist, a 37-year-old man from Ipswich, was also taken to hospital but his injuries were not thought to be serious.

Although the cause of the accident is not yet known and speed may not have been a factor, residents in Heath Road claim motorists need to slow down, and some believe that the straight road has become a type of speed track.

Another resident, Ian Scopes, 32, said: “I have got two young children so I am always wary of the traffic. You can hear cars and bikes accelerate from the traffic lights so by the time they pass here, they are travelling at quite a speed.”

Police are keen to hear from anyone who saw the crash as although it happened at a busy time, they said not many people have come forward with information.

Anyone who can help should call Pc Beth Harper at the road's policing unit on 01473 613500.

Did you know the man and would you like to pay tribute to him? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk