East End firefighters scoop award for saving man’s life

A CREW of firefighters in London’s East End have been given special achievement’ awards this week for saving the life of a man who collapsed in the street outside their fire-station. The man had collapsed in the snow last February and they revived him

By Mike Brooke

A CREW of firefighters in London's East End have been given 'special achievement' awards this week for saving the life of a man who collapsed in the street outside their fire-station.

Crew manager Mick McCarthy by chance looked out of the window at Poplar fire-station in East India Dock Road during last February's heavy snow when he spotted a man collapsed at a bus stop opposite.

He and his firefighters on blue watch rushed over with an emergency care pack to help the man and began cardio resuscitation.

They hooked him to their defibrillator and gave first aid until an ambulance arrived and took the man to hospital.

Station manager Robin Whittington said: "The man survived the incident and this was down to the quick-thinking the crew on watch, who were working under extreme pressure."

The firefighters had been trained how to use new emergency care packs to save the man's life. It was the first time they had successfully used a defibrillator to save someone's life.

The man made a full recovery at the Royal London in Whitechapel.