Hero officer: “I just did what anyone else would have done”

A POLICE constable from Harlow has been praised after saving the life of a man who had collapsed while cycling in the town.

PC Lee Sheppard, based on the Harlow Local Policing Team, was flagged down by a member of the public after the man in his fifties collapsed in Post Office Road. The 42-year-old officer said: “Luckily I was really close to where the man had collapsed and autopilot just kicked in and I performed CPR until the paramedics arrived and took him to hospital.

“I just did what anyone else would have done.”

The father of 3-year-old twin boys acknowledged the importance of the first aid refresher training officers receive each year; his was in August.

He said: “The training we have as police officers came in really handy and is why I knew what I needed to do.”

PC Sheppard also understands the importance of giving medical help as quickly as possible because his wife is a former emergency medical technician.

Supt Trevor Roe, West LPA senior officer, said: “Pc Sheppard’s actions demonstrate that he is a credit to the police service and I’m sure that his quick thinking will have given this man a greater chance of survival.

“I will be endorsing a recommendation that he receives official recognition for his efforts to help this man.”

PC Sheppard has served in the Harlow district since 2007 when he was a PCSO and latterly as an officer since 2008.

Mark Smith, chairman of Essex Police Federation, said: “This case just highlights the fact that policing is not just about crime. PC Sheppard automatically drew from what his training taught him – which is to help people and to save lives. It saved this man’s life.

“As we are all aware the whole of the public service are being cut and it could have been some time before the ambulance arrived. It was fantastic work by this officer.”