Shrewsbury police officers commended for life-saving actions
Three Shrewsbury police officers have been commended for using their first-aid training to help save a man's life.
Response officers PC Ian Osborne, PC Tony Smith and PC Emma Watson responded to an emergency 999 call on January 2 this year.
The police control room had been contacted by BT, reporting a silent 999 call where the caller was unable to respond and all that could be heard was laboured breathing.
Having identified the address in Shrewsbury, the three officers were sent to the home. They entered the premises and in an upstairs bedroom found an elderly man knelt down with his head resting on the bedside table with the telephone receiver still in his hand.
The man could not be roused, he was blue in the face and there were no signs of life. A pulse could not be detected.
The three officers laid the man on his back and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), including the kiss of life and chest compressions.
They maintained CPR until ambulance crews arrived to take over. The man was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital where he was reported to be breathing and had a heartbeat.
PCs Osborne, Smith and Watson have been awarded Superintendent's Commendations for "acting in a prompt and professional manner, utilising emergency first-aid skills to help save the life of a member of the public."
