Real lifesavers

HEROES... Sam Widdall with Chris Tetlow (left) and Ryan Bailey

First-aid heroes honoured

Two first-aid heroes who saved their footballing friend’s life have been honoured by North-West Ambulance Service managers.

Chris Tetlow and Ryan Bailey rushed to help 22-year-old Sam Widdall when he collapsed with a heart attack.

They carried out heart massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as Sam turned blue, saving his life until paramedics arrived.

And on Saturday, both were presented with certificates of commendation from North-West Ambulance Service representative Helen Priest.

Sam, who has now had a defibrillator fitted which will shock his heart into action if it stops in the future, was on hand to see them thanked by Ms Priest.

The drama unfolded minutes after the start of a Sunday League match in Shaw between Chris and Sam’s team, FC Broadgate, and Ryan’s Crompton and Royton side in January.

Father-of-one Chris (29), from Buttercup Drive, Moorside, who works in construction, had recently been sent on a first aid course.

He said: “I’d never practised it for real before. One of our supporters called 999, and Ryan got to Sam first because I was on the touchline. We were all assessing the situation. Someone thought Sam had swallowed his tongue. I could feel a faint pulse but then he stopped breathing and went blue.

“The 999 operator guided and reassured us that we were doing the right thing.

“We knew we had to keep the oxygen going and if he stopped breathing, to give him mouth-to-mouth.”

Trainee physiotherapist Ryan (24), from Newark Park Way, Royton, began chest compressions as Chris made sure Sam’s airways stayed open.

Ryan added: “It was good to be reassured because we didn’t want to make it any worse.”

Sam, from Pennine Avenue, Chadderton, who is out of hospital and continuing his studies to become a PE teacher, said: “I didn’t know a thing about it.

“I feel OK now, I’ve had a bit of physio and been for a run, and hope to be back at football in about four weeks.

“After this, I think everyone should learn how to do resuscitation.”