Two members of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire Armed Policing Unit (BHCAPU) have been praised after they saved the life of a man who suffered a heart attack at Luton Airport.  

At around 5.15am on Tuesday June 12, Police Constables Adam Shellum and Emily Estes were on patrol at the airport when a 65-year-old man collapsed at the check-in desk and then went into cardiac arrest.

As the check-in staff called an ambulance, PC Shellum and PC Estes gave the man emergency first aid which included CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

The man’s condition deteriorated and the officers used a defibrillator twice to restart his heart.  

The officers continued to provide emergency first aid until paramedics arrived and took the man to hospital for treatment at the Coronary Care Unit where his condition is described as stable.

Inspector Peter Knight of the BHCAPU said: “The quick response, skill and training of PC Shellum and PC Estes proved invaluable last Tuesday in saving the life of a passenger at Luton Airport and I cannot praise the pair enough for their actions.

“All officers are trained in first aid techniques and this incident proves just how vital knowledge of CPR can be in saving someone’s life.”  

For more information about first aid courses visit the St Johns Ambulance website www.sja.org.uk or for information about heart attack prevention visit the British Heart Foundation website www.bhf.org.uk.