A POLICE officer today encouraged people to take first aid courses - after emergency training enabled him to save a motorist's life.

A POLICE officer today encouraged people to take first aid courses - after emergency training enabled him to save a motorist's life.

Acting Sergeant Paul Smith, based at Suffolk police headquarters, claimed the training he received from St John Ambulance Suffolk was solely responsible for preventing the death of a heart-attack casualty at an incident.

Mr Smith was on duty in Felixstowe, dealing with a broken down lorry near the port gates when a car came out of a petrol station and ended up in collision with another truck.

The car driver had suffered a major heart attack at the wheel and needed emergency medical attention.

Mr Smith leapt into action and put to use the techniques he had learnt.

He said: “The man was exhibiting classic signs of a heart attack, and although there were about 20 people at the scene, not one was competent in first aid, so I found myself calling on the skills I'd learned with St John Ambulance.

“I have to admit that I had never been so nervous in all my life, but the training just kicked in and I was able to work on the man to the point that I got some signs of life.”

Mr Smith had attended two St John Ambulance courses - one just weeks before the dramatic incident.

He said: “The training provided by the people at St John Ambulance Suffolk has always been superb and it's due to their delivery that I was able to save this man's life.

“As far as I'm concerned, everyone should be trained in first aid. There's no doubt in my mind that if I hadn't had the training then that man would be dead now.”

The man made a full recovery and is back at work.

Mr Smith said: “I'm now very confident of my first aid skills and I certainly go out of my way to encourage everyone I meet to attend a similar course and to ensure they have a level of competence - because you never know when you could be in a position where you're the only one able to save a life.”

For more information about St John Ambulance courses, people should call 01473 241500.

Have you used your first aid training in an emergency to save someone's life? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk