A plasterer has revealed how he battled for half an hour to save the life of a pedestrian found wounded on the A66.

It was Chris Newburn's first day working for West Lake Plastering, and he had been with a colleague driving to Cockermouth when they came across the casualty.

"There were two men standing there, looking at a man in the road," the 28-year-old, from Penrith, recalled.

"I think they'd just stopped as we arrived. We put him in the recovery position and got all our coats from the van and put them round him."

Chris has never received first aid training, and admits he felt scared and helpless.

He continued: "After a few minutes a woman stopped who said she was with the mountain rescue.

"She told me what to do, and we took it in turns doing chest compressions and breathing for him.

"We performed CPR until the ambulance came, and then I helped the ambulance crew, holding up his legs and things."

Sadly the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Late last night police released his identity. He was 53-year-old David Robinson, from Keswick.

Emergency services confirmed they were called to reported of an injured man on the A66 near Keswick, at about 7.30am yesterday.

A spokeswoman for Cumbria Police confirmed that his family had been informed, and specially trained officers are working with them.

She continued: "It is believed the man may have been hit by an HGV.

"It may be possible that the driver was not aware of the collision.

"We would like to speak to the drivers of any heavy vehicles who travelled along the A66 near Keswick, between the early hours of yesterday morning and 7.30am.

"Officers would also like anyone with information, or who may have dashcam footage of that area between those times, to get in touch via 101, and ask to speak to PC 1947 Ross."

The key Cumbrian road was closed in both directions, between Crosthwaite roundabout and the junction at High Hill, while accident investigation work took place.

It did not reopen until late morning.

Chris and his colleague were at the scene for almost two hours.

They were both in shock, and were told to go home by their bosses at the Cockermouth firm.

"I just wish we could have saved him," he admitted.

"I'm very grateful to the mountain rescue woman who told me what to do. I was helpless before that."

Traumatised by what he witnessed, Chris has already registered to complete a first aid course, in the hope that if he is ever in such a situation again he will know what to do.