FOR the first time since he helped save his life, 29-year-old Sittingbourne man Paul Mahoney has come face to face with policeman Doug Roberston.

The pair were at a dramatic reconstruction of the moment in November 2000 that Mr Mahoney had his left arm ripped off in an accident at Kemsley Mill, near Sittingbourne. At the weekend they were at the mill again to film what happened for BBC's 999 programme presented by newsreader Michael Buerk.

Mr Mahoney was in agony while PC Robertson dashed to the nearby Asda store to get some ice to freeze the severed limb.

Mr Mahoney, 29, of Blythe Close, Murston, was then flown by Kent Air Ambulance to the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex, where the arm was re-attached in a 15-hour operation.

He said during the filming: "When the accident happened I did not think about retrieving my arm from the machinery. Actually it was the last thing on my mind as I thought I was going to die.

"Recovery has taken a long time as you would expect, but I can now drive a car and play golf. "This has been a really good opportunity to thank those who helped me including PC Robertson. I can't believe so many people were involved."

Watching the 12-hour TV reconstruction was Swale police spokesman Sally Farrell who said: "The programme will even have a fake severed arm made of foam, cotton wool and imitation blood. Everything in the reconstruction was as realistic as possible.

"The make-up artist, who specialises in body parts, said she would probably be sick if she saw a real severed limb."

It is expected that the programme will be shown in the autumn. Last summer Mr Mahoney organised a five-a-side football tournament which raised more than £350 for the Kent air ambulance.