Two men honoured after saving life of man who collapsed near River Severn
Two people – including a Kidderminster police officer – who fought to save a man who had collapsed at the roadside in Bewdley have been awarded top national life-saving honours.
Pc Michael Harrison and Stuart Hart have each been awarded Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificates for saving the life of the man – who was discharged from hospital just a week after the incident.
The incident unfolded in Severnside South on the afternoon of May 18 last year, when Mr Hart, from the Malvern area, saw the 65-year-old man – who had been to lunch with his wife – collapse.
Mr Hart stopped to go and help the man – and began administering CPR, before Pc Harrison joined him.
An ambulance and doctor then arrived and the man was stabilised before being air-lifted to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
He was released from hospital a week later.
Andrew Chapman, the Royal Humane Society's secretary, has praised Pc Harrison and Mr Hart for their actions in helping to save the unnamed man.
He said: "They did a superb job and thanks to them the man survived.
"In this sort of situation it’s vital that CPR is started as soon as possible and thanks to the fact Mr Hart was driving past at the time the man collapsed it was.
"He was certainly the right person in the right place at the right time.
“Then, when PC Harrison arrived at the scene it was team work and in difficult circumstances by the side of the road.
"They both richly deserve the awards they are to receive.
“This is yet another of many cases we deal with which emphasise the value of as many members of the public as possible learning CPR techniques. I’m sure people who learn them hope they are never called on to use them.
"But as this incident vividly illustrates, if CPR is needed it can, as it did here make the difference between life and death.”
