Off-duty police officer helped bring collapsed pensioner back to life
BEAT MANAGER HAILED A HERO
AN off-duty police officer brought a pensioner back to life after finding him collapsed in the street.
PC Richard Precious, of Lincolnshire Police, has been hailed a hero by the family of Jess Hill, who collapsed while walking his dog in Newmarket, Louth. Pensioner Jess Hill had to be resuscitated three times, before going to Grimsby’s Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital.
Popular beat manager for the Louth area, PC Precious was returning from the school run when he stopped to help after seeing the man lying on the pavement.
Mr Hill was unconscious and in cardiac arrest with his wife, Pauline, in distress, stood over him.
The experienced officer began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
He was joined by an off duty doctor and they continued CPR.
After some attempts, and much to their relief, Mr Hill, aged in his 70s, showed some signs of recovery and although he remained unconscious he did make some efforts to breathe for himself before deteriorating again. The same resuscitation cycle continued with similar spasmodic responses from the man until an ambulance arrived.
A number of other Good Samaritans stopped and a couple of people helped round up the family’s pet dog which had run off.
He had suffered three cardiac arrests, but despite this is now off all life support and is expected to make a good recovery.
PC Precious received a message from Mr Hill’s wife after the dramatic ordeal on Monday saying: “Thank you so much for your help this morning. “You saved his life and I for one will be eternally grateful, there are no words. The hospital have called and they have removed his life support, he knows who I am even over the phone. We owe you, thank you again so much.” Their son, Tom Hill, said: “I am so very grateful to PC Precious and all of the people who helped to save his life, and those who continue to provide care in hospital.
“Our family life would be very different without Dad and the selfless actions of everyone on Monday means he is still with us. I can’t say thank you enough.”
Chief Superintendent Chris Davison said: “To save someone’s life is such a privilege and I’m so very proud of PC Precious who acted swiftly to help a member of his community while off duty.
“The first duty of a police officer is to save life, it’s heart-warming when we can perform that duty and save the life of a precious and much-loved family man.”
PC Richard Precious, Community Beat Manager for Louth, said: “I just did what anyone else would have done I suppose.
“We were in the right place at the right time. But because of the training I’ve received and having been in the job now for over 20 years, instinct took over and we were able to do as much as we could to help him until further help arrived.
“I’m extremely grateful to the doctor who stopped to help and I guess together we have maybe saved Mr Hill’s life.
“To think I’ve made a difference is very humbling and to receive thanks from the family and my senior management team is a huge honour. “The nicest thought though, having spoken to his family, is that Mr Hill has the chance of being able to celebrate Christmas at home. That’s not something I would have thought possible when I first met him on Monday morning.”
No details of the off-duty doctor have been released.