Leicestershire Chief Constable's awards ceremony: Stories of courage and quick thinking

Police officers Sue Marsh, Pete Smith and Chris Perry were on duty at Melton police station when a man in his 60s suffered a heart attack and collapsed outside. But thanks to their quick thinking, Lawrence Brown made a full recovery.

All three were each presented with the Chief Constable's Resuscitation Certificate at the ceremony on Tuesday.

Remembering the incident, on January 3 last year, Pcso Smith said: "The gentleman had fallen outside so I went out and helped him to his feet. It was an awful day – chucking it down with rain."

Pcso Smith helped Mr Brown inside the station, where he started complaining of pains.

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Pcso Marsh, whose husband Tony died of a heart attack, recognised the symptoms of cardiac arrest.

"It was the same as Tony 14 years ago. I noticed all the signs," she said.

While paramedics made their way to the police station, Pcso Smith and Pc Perry took turns at heart compressions on Mr Brown for 10 minutes before the medic arrived, then for a further 30 minutes while the medic used a defibrillator to try to get his heartbeat stable.

Pcso Smith said: "The paramedic had to shock him a few times and 40 minutes doing heart compressions, even with myself and Chris taking turns, was quite a workout."

Mr Brown had been lapsing in and out of consciousness. After he was taken to hospital, the officers had no idea whether he would live.

However, they soon received a phone call telling them the good news.

In fact, it was much sooner than they had expected when Chris received a phone call to let everyone know.

Pc Perry said: "He had seemed in a bad way when he left our station but they called the same afternoon and told us he was sat up in bed having a cup of tea."

Mr Brown now visits the station to thank the staff.

"He's always so grateful and it's nice he keeps in touch," said Pcso Marsh.

They also received a thank you letter from Mr Brown's sister, Margaret, which said: "Thank you for what you did for my brother.

"What would we all do without you?"