Devizes lifesaver is honoured
4:48pm Wednesday 2nd December 2009
By Jill Crooks »


ST John Ambulance volunteer Stephen Nutt of Devizes has been praised for helping save the life of an elderly man.

Mr Nutt, 45, and fellow volunteer Andrew Freestone, of Melksham, were on duty at Taunton racecourse in March when they were called to an 89-year-old who collapsed with a suspected heart attack.

Mr Freestone administ ered chest compressions while Mr Nutt aided breathing using a bag, valve and mask.

A racecourse nurse arrived with a defibrillator with which Mr Nutt and Mr Freestone administered a couple of shocks and the man regained a pulse and started breathing .

An NHS ambulance crew told the St John’s men they had done a good job. The patient was released from hospital a few weeks later.

Mr Nutt, a St John volunteer for seven years, said: “This is the first time I have treated someone in a life threatening situation and it was good that it was successful.”

He and Mr Freestone were presented with St John Ambulance commander’s awards at Devizes Corn Exchange on Tuesday.