SIX officers received top honours from the chief constable of Essex after saving the life of a cyclist who had collapsed into a ditch following a cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n
PC Rob Andrews and PC Deborah Gray from the force\u2019s Casualty Reduction Section along with four members of Essex Police\u2019s Force Support Unit received the chief constable\u2019s commendation last month (Nov 20), awarded to officers in exceptional cases of bravery.<\/p>\n
PC Andrews and PC Gray were on their way back to the South Woodham Ferrers police station in March this year when they were flagged down by a member of public in distress on Hawkswood Road, in Billericay.<\/p>\n
The pair then discovered keen cyclist Brian Hughes lying face down in a ditch by the side of the road. Mr Hughes had been cycling in Billericay when he suffered a cardiac arrest and was found by two other cyclists.<\/p>\n
The officers gave Mr Hughes emergency CPR, or chest compressions, and called for an ambulance and any units carrying a defibrillator to rush to the scene. This was the first time PC Andrews had been called upon to carry out emergency CPR.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt like a lifetime when we were doing the CPR and it was quite an intense situation. The Force Support Unit got to us before the paramedics and there is nothing more reassuring than hearing guys like that, who have more training than us, turning up and then working with us between my compressions,\u201d said PC Andrews.<\/p>\n
The Force Support Unit was quick to arrive at the scene and the teamwork of all six officers saved Mr Hughes\u2019 life.<\/p>\n
A member of the Force Support Unit said:\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re double crewed so there are always two of us which is an advantage. We carry the First Aid equipment on board and having the defibrillators that day certainly saved Brian\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n
PC Andrews added: \u201cI\u2019m incredibly proud and honoured to receive a commendation, it\u2019s a first for me and any recognition is great.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had lots of praise from the consultants and the specialist heart doctors which is great and obviously the best prize for us was being able to see him again looking so fit and well a week later and being able to shake his hand was fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n
The six officers also received Resuscitation Certificates from the Royal Humane Society.<\/p>\n
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