A FAN attempted to save the life of a Hillsborough victim giving him CPR with the help of a police officer.

The inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool Football Club fans heard today how fellow supporter Terence Pitt spotted victim David Benson, who worked in Widnes, being carried by three fans and tried to help.

He told the jury they carried him out through the tunnel and laid him down on the floor.

Mr Pitt said: “His face was white and his lips were blue.

“He had no shoes on, only trousers and a shirt which was ripped open.”

David, from Penketh, who worked at a Widnes timber firm, was unconscious and Mr Pitt started mouth to mouth when two police officers knelt by his side.

The Liverpool fan, who had been trained with lifesaving skills spending 15 years in the Army, added: “There was slight confusion as we got in each other’s way but I checked and there was no pulse.

“The WPC then began to give chest compressions.

“The other officer said it was two breaths to every five compressions but we told him it was only one breath.

“It was slightly chaotic at times and after five minutes the police officer decided to stop.

“We tried our best but there were no signs of life and there was nothing more we could do for him.”

Mr Pitt then tried to help other casualties at the scene.

Earlier in the hearing the court had been shown what was described as ‘extremely distressing’ photographs of pen three and identified David in a number of images between 3.03 and 3.05pm.

A statement from a fan identified standing near David said the pressure from the crush ‘became intolerable’ and he had tried to stand on his tip-toes to breathe before losing conscious.

The jury also heard a statement from police constable Roger Uttley claiming he had performed mouth to mouth resuscitation on David but did not attend the hearing to be questioned.

The 22-year-old, who bred budgerigars after rescuing a bird from a tree, had gone to the game in April 1989 with his next door neighbour Ian Long.

They had travelled to the match in David’s company car but parted ways outside the Leppings Lane end as Mr Long had a ticket for the North Stand.

A doctor confirmed David’s death at 4.34pm on April 15, 1989. His father Brian identified his body at 2.05am the following morning.

David had a daughter, Kirsty, with his partner Leslie.

He used to play football in Runcorn as a youngster.

Solicitor Thalia Maragh, representing Mr Benson’s family, said they were ‘extremely grateful’ to Mr Pitt for his assistance during the disaster.

The inquests continue.