PCSOs praised for saving man's life

Two PCSOs have been praised by paramedics after saving a man’s life in Devonport on Wednesday (12 November).

PCSO Sam Blake and PCSO Sam Welch were flagged down by a member of public on Charlotte Street at around 3.15pm after a 56-year-old man had collapsed and was laying unconscious in the Morice Town Convenience Store.

While running to the store, the officers radioed for assistance and a defibrillator. The man was located and the officers immediately administered CPR and chest compressions.

A few minutes later he regained consciousness and was placed in the recovery position. Other officers attended along with paramedics, who took the man to Derriford Hospital by ambulance.

PCSO Sam Blake said; “From the moment we arrived on scene our main focus was to help the man and do our best to help save his life.

“It all was a bit of a blur and your training takes over. It was great to have the support of my colleague Sam Welch as we undertook this training together and she is a friend so this support was invaluable. Afterwards i felt a mixture of relief and pride, i’m just so please we were able to save his life.

I am also grateful to the local resident for her 999 call and updating the call handler of our actions; she was fantastic!

“Due to our line of work we receive a high standard of first aid training which we refresh every year. I recommend if people get the chance to enrol on a first aid course then do so as you never know when these skills might come in handy, or even help save a life.”