Postie thanks trio who saved his life after heart stopped

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A POSTMAN who almost died after his heart suddenly stopped has thanked the rescuers who saved his life.

Robert Moore of Langport was walking home in January when he collapsed in thick snow in Eastover.

Youth worker Paul Chorley spotted Mr Moore lying on the ground and rushed over to administer CPR. Tracey Foster, of Chapel Court, saw the commotion unfold from the window of her home, got her partner to dial 999 and brought out blankets.

Mr Moore, 52, was walking back from his local Tesco store at the time after his Compton Dundon deliveries were cancelled because of the treacherous weather.

He said: "I am grateful to them for saving my life. I did not know much about it at the time and the hospital never did find out what caused it. I have always been quite fit and it is pretty scary to think what could have happened."

Mr Chorley, 36, had attended a first aid course just six months previously. He said: "I just did what I had learned and did not think about it. It did seem like a long time before an ambulance arrived and I can just remember my knees being frozen where I had been knelt at Rob's side."

Senior nursing home carer Ms Foster, who now lives in Seaton, Devon, said: "I was a bit worried about Rob and whether there would be any side effects or damage to his brain because of the lack of oxygen, but it is great to see he is fighting fit."

Mr Moore met the duo on Thursday, alongside Martyn Callow, head community engagement manager for South Western Ambulance Service who was on the scene within six minutes of the emergency call in a 4x4.

Mr Callow, who is usually stuck behind a desk, was at his home near the town on standby because of the poor conditions.

He restarted Mr Moore's heart with a defibrillator before he was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton via ambulance. He said the device worked first time thanks to the efforts of Mr Chorley.

Two weeks later Mr Moore had recovered enough to understand what had happened to him. A mini-defibrillator was attached to his heart which will kick in should it stop beating before he was discharged after a five-week stay.

Mr Callow presented certificates of appreciation to Mr Chorley and Ms Foster at the gathering at Ilminster ambulance station on Thursday.

He said the heroic deed showed the importance of members of the public being trained in basic life saving skills.

"It is a great pleasure to present these certificates to Paul and Tracey and to meet Rob, who without their actions would not be here today. I would strongly recommend that everyone has an awareness of how to perform CPR in an emergency", he said.

Former Somerton FC coach, Mr Moore of Brooklands Road, has temporarily hung up his postbag after 32 years in the job and is spending more time with wife Tracy and son Matthew, 17.

The ambulance service is currently recruiting community first responders in Castle Cary, Chard, Crewkerne, Wincanton and Wells.

For more information contact 01392 261646.