The 25-year-old motorbike rider crashed into a Toyota sedan on Red Hill Road shortly after 4.30pm, causing the life-threatening injury.

Wagga Ambulance station officer Adam Horsley said the first aid administered by bystanders saved the man’s life.

“I don’t know if they were nurses or army medics, but they saw what happened and using bandages they had on hand applied direct pressure to stop the bleeding,” Mr Horsley said. “Without them he would have lost too much blood for us to save him within one or two minutes.”

The man was taken to Wagga Rural Referral Hospital’s emergency department and once he was stabilised, he was airlifted to Canberra Hospital just before 9.30pm.

According to a police spokesman, the rider passed a police car moments before the crash and a critical incident team was formed from an independent local area command in the southern region to investigate the crash.

“Police from Wagga Highway Patrol observed a motorbike, allegedly travelling above the speed limit,” he said. “Officers turned around in order to stop the motorcycle and a short time later, the bike and a Toyota sedan collided approximately 500 metres east of the intersection with the Olympic Highway.”

The team will investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.