A WORKER who dashed into a factory five times in a vain attempt to save his friend as poisonous gas leaked into the building has picked up a prestigious bravery award.

Phil Walsh, aged 30, was presented with The Royal Humane Society Silver Medal after returning to the fume filled factory, in Lowton, to recover the body of his colleague, 54-year-old Alan Golden.

The ammonia leak at refrigerating company Cold Move, on Stone Cross Enterprise Park, last September led to part of the East Lancs road being cordoned off and nearby buildings being evacuated.

When Phil realised Mr Golden, from Oswestry in Shropshire, was still in the building, he strapped on his oxygen mask and went inside.

He said: "I went in four times before the oxygen eventually ran out and although I knew he was dead, I didn't want to leave him in there.

"So, on the fifth time, I held my jacket to my face and managed to find him."

Phil, from West Park in St Helens, said he didn't think of the consequences at the time and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

He joins an elite group of people who have been awarded the silver medal, given out just once in the past two years.

Other winners of the award - the highest honour that the society bestows - include jockey Ray Cochrane, who saved Frankie Dettori and attempted to save the pilot of their light aircraft, which crashed in 2000.