A LIFE-SAVING voluntary group from Knutsford has been left ‘speechless’ after winning the highest award at a national ceremony.

Knutsford Community First Responder Trust’s hard work paid off when they received the ‘special recognition award’ at the National Heart Safe Awards on Friday night.

The group was contacted by the organisers of the awards, Hand on Heart, and asked to nominate itself for this year’s round.

Sylvia Thomas, who was nominated and won alongside the trust, explained that the group did not think they had won anything.

“We had been shortlisted last year and never got anything,” said Sylvia. “We turned up but all three categories we didn’t win so we thought ‘nevermind’ and were very proud to have been shortlisted.”

It was only at the end of the ceremony that the organisers announced there was one final category, before surprising the team with the special award.

“It was such an honour,” added Sylvia, who has been with the first responders since it started 14 years ago. “I was absolutely speechless, it was lovely.”

Adrian and the team have worked tirelessly to secure AEDs across the town and in surrounding villages, as well as working alongside the C-R-Y charity to provide heart screening days for young-people aged 14 to 35 years of age as well as running lifesaving HeartStart courses and providing vital emergency response.

“The award is recognising the work that the trust has done,” said Adrian. “I hope that the community will recognise that Knutsford is one of the safest places to live.

“We don’t get money for what we do, but we do get to save people’s lives. It is a great feeling.

“It’s absolutely brilliant. It mainly recognises all the hard-work and dedication of our volunteers.”

For more information about the first responders or to find out how to volunteer, visit knutsfordfirstresponders.org.uk