Quick-thinking Trowbridge PC Jamie Darvill, who carried out CPR on a collapsed elderly man, has been praised by Chief Constable Patrick Geenty.

PC Darvill was called into action in Westbury – while he was travelling to work in August – when he found a cyclist had collapsed when getting off his bike.

The 49-year-old officer started to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation until another officer arrived. They continued while a critical care doctor and a paramedic, who arrived by air ambulance, tried to stabilise the patient. PC Darvill and his colleague maintained chest compressions until the pensioner was flown to Bristol Royal Infirmary, but the man died later that evening.

“I was driving into work when I became aware of a man sitting on steps with three others around him,” said PC Darvill. “I knew something wasn’t right and decided to turn my car around.

“He had stopped breathing and two of the women with him were distraught. I put him in the recovery position and started mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions. My colleague arrived and we then took it in turns doing CPR until the first ambulance arrived. We managed to get him breathing again.

“The paramedics did a great job, but sadly he later died.”

The doctor and paramedic praised the actions of the officers and said they gave the man the best chance of survival.

PC Darvill was given a Chief Constable’s Certificate of Merit at a ceremony at Cumberwell Golf Club in Bradford on Avon last Thursday.