FOUR staff members at Marlborough leisure centre have been presented with Royal Humane Society awards after their fast work saved the life of a centre user.

Charlotte Lloyd, 26, of Wadworth Road, Devizes, used the centre's defibrillator to administer shocks to Phillip Fidler, from Marlborough, after he had collapsed during a workout in the leisure centre gym after suffering from ventricular fibrillation, a serious cardiac rhythm disturbance.

Ms Lloyd , Louise Jones, 32, of Tidworth, and Devizes workers Morrison Cooper, 22, and Darren Coltard, 46, managed to restart the 60-year-old's heart and got him breathing again unaided until paramedics arrived to take over.

Now the quartet have received Royal Humane Society certificates in recognition of their efforts, which saved Mr Fidler's life last July.

They were thanked at the award ceremony by Wiltshire Councillor Jonathan Seed, cabinet member for leisure, who said the honour was richly deserved and that the staff had put their training into practice in an exemplary manner.

"I am so proud of all them for saving Phillip's life and we are honoured to receive these awards," said duty officer Ms Lloyd.

"What they did was amazing and to see him back in the gym was a fantastic feeling for everyone, as he is such a wonderful and well-known customer. You do not have time to think, you just act and do what you are trained to do as his life was at stake.

"After Louise, Morrison and Darren did exactly what they should have done by making him comfortable, keeping his airway open and doing CPR, I gave him two shocks of the defibrillator and we looked after him until the emergency services came.

"We were just in the right place at the right time but it was a great team effort, not just from the four of us but from other staff who were ready to help out too. I have dealt with broken bones and people fainting but nothing like this.

"I hope it shows to our customers that they are in safe hands and if there is an emergency, the staff are ready to deal with situations like this."

After learning of the awards, Mr Fidler said he was delighted that the four staff were to receive the honours, which he said was richly deserved.

"I am deeply humbled by their help and I am forever grateful to them. Without their prompt reactions I would not be here. I will never forget it," said Mr Fidler, who has had heart problems for nearly 15 years.

"I do not remember any of it as I woke up a day later and was in hospital for eight days after that. They had to fit an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator into my chest so if it occurs again it should shock my heartbeat and get it working again.

"When I returned to the gym a month or so later, it was very moving and emotional meeting, thanking the staff who saved me.

"Putting something into practice like this is so valuable and not easy to do."