TWO Pewsey men have been praised for their actions in responding to two emergency situations in the village last year.

Simon Green and Lee Tapper were recognized for their swift actions in coming to the aid of members of the public in two separate incidents by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT).

At an awards ceremony at Bristol on November 16, together with a number of members of the public emergency the two Wiltshire men were commended by SWASFT chief executive Ken Wenman. He said: “SWASFT Chief Executive, Ken Wenman, said: “3,000 times a day, within the largest ambulance service in England, our people are saving lives, reducing peoples’ suffering and pain, and dealing with the social and mental health needs of our communities. I am personally thankful to them all.”

The actions of the two heroes took place this year. In August 2017, a serious motorcycle accident took place in the village leaving a man with extreme injuries. Mr Tapper was the first person on the scene and recognizing the seriousness of the situation asked off-duty firefighter Simon Green to assist him.

SWASFT chairman Tony Fox said the two men used CPR and a defibrillator kept in the village to restore the victim’s heart beat until the ambulance arrived.

He said: “Despite their best efforts and those of the paramedics, the patient did not survive, but the selfless actions of these two men ensured that the utmost was done to try and save his life.”

By a twist of fate later last year on October 11 in the evening in almost the same place a young man collapsed while walking home.

Mr Fox said: “Lee, once again being close to the incident, rushed to help and again requested the assistance of Simon who attended with the local defibrillator. They started CPR and used the defibrillator to successfully restore a rhythm. Both men continued to work hard to maintain this young man’s condition until paramedics arrived and he was air-lifted to hospital.”

This time there was a happy outcome as the man had a heart operation and made a full recovery.

Mr Fox said because of their willingness to go help in such difficult circumstances, and for going ‘above and beyond’ as well as their immense bravery and dedication to saving lives, SWASFT’ chief executive was were pleased to present the commend Commendation award to the two men.