A postal worker has reached the final of a national first aid competition after she saved her colleague's life during a night shift at work.
Vanessa Taylor, from Uplands in Swansea, has been shortlisted for the St John Ambulance Workplace Hero Award, which acknowledges an individual who has been the difference between life and death in their workplace.
Royden Thomas, 58, was working the same shift as Vanessa when he suddenly collapsed after suffering a heart attack at the Royal Mail office in Llansamlet. Thankfully 43-year-old Vanessa had completed her first aid training two weeks earlier so knew exactly what to do.
She said: “He stopped breathing and was starting to turn blue. I knew I had to perform CPR so I carried out chest compressions and rescue breaths until the paramedics arrived.”
Vanessa instructed two colleagues to assist with CPR and communicate with the emergency services before the ambulance arrived.
Paramedics shocked Royden with a defibrillator three times before he regained consciousness.
Royden has since made a full recovery and has personally thanked Vanessa for saving his life.
He recently celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary and has given up smoking after being diagnosed with blocked arteries.
“He is a picture of health now. We text each other all the time and are really good friends,” said Vanessa.
Vanessa now wants to join St John Wales as a First Responder as she wants to make a difference in the community.
“I have always had a keen in interest in first aid and I think it’s of paramount importance for everyone to learn such an important skill as you never know when you might need to use it,” she said.
The winner of the Workplace Hero category will be announced at a glittering event in London on Monday 19 November, hosted by survival expert Ray Mears, who has himself used first aid many times.
Awards at the celebratory black-tie awards dinner will be presented by celebrities including Dragons’ Den star and businessman Duncan Bannatyne, singer Michelle Heaton who needed first aid when she collapsed at a marathon and TV presenter Matthew Wright, whose life was saved when he choked.
Royal Mail has a policy to exceed the minimum number of required first aiders and has a proud history of promoting first aid to its staff. (
)Full details on the awards can be found at http://www.sja.org.uk/firstaidawards" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;