FIRST Responders are celebrating bring recognised as ‘Everyday Heroes’.

Members of Knutsford Community First Responders Trust attended the North West Ambulance Service in-house award ceremony, which recognises clinical excellence across Cheshire and Merseyside.

Three team members, Pauline Coffey, Terry Griffiths and Sylvia Thomas were proud to receive the Everyday Hero Award on behalf of the Trust at the inaugural event.

“The award was given in recognition of the breadth of the Trust’s work across its four operating areas, and it is well deserved by every volunteer who helps in any capacity,” said group chairman Sal Thompson.

Sylvia said: “It’s a credit to us all to receive such a recognition from our own peers within the North West Ambulance Service – well done team KCFRT.”

A member of Bikemarshals has thanked Knutsford First Responders for its Heartstart support.

Graham Jones from Bolton came across an incident while working on the Manchester to Blackpool Cycle Ride.

“A Knutsford First Responders spokesman said: “A female rider was unconscious on the ground, with several people standing round her, who had requested an ambulance and had told the call taker the patient was breathing - that of course lowered the urgency status of the call.

“Graham recognised she was agonal breathing (about one breath every 30 to 40 seconds) and was in cardiac arrest.

“He started CPR and asked someone to fetch his AED from the pannier of his bike. He then shocked the lady three times.

“After some time a fire appliance en-route to the fire on Winter Hill, stopped and the crew came to Graham’s assistance.

“The lady was taken by ambulance to The Royal Bolton Hospital ICU. Graham has been to see her in hospital and to say it was an emotional reunion is somewhat of an understatement.”

Graham, who was on the first Heartstart training course the Bikemarshals attended, said: “De-fibs do work and people should be aware of the signs and symptoms of a cardiac arrest.

“Get stuck in and do something, don’t just stand around doing nothing. Whatever you do is not going to worsen the situation but maybe you may be able to save a life.”

Barrie Green, Bikemarshals Co-ordinator said: “We recognise the importance of early intervention, effective CPR and defibrillation and have invested heavily on AEDs.

“We now have five AEDs and try to have at least one on every event we attend.

“It’s no use having them without being competent in using them, and we are extremely grateful to our great friends at Knutsford Community First Responder Trust for facilitating Heartstart training.

“Everyone should attend a course. Like Graham you might even be in the position to give someone the greatest gift ever – life.”