Ray Towell, long-time railwayman and recently retired operations manager at the National Rail Museum had a lucky escape on a York street recently.
Ray, 66, suffered a heart attack as he waited for a bus on Blossom Street. His heart arrested and he stopped breathing. A Police Community Support Officer, Lee Johnson, saw what had happened and sprang into action giving first aid.
A passing paramedic, Craig Barley, also assisted. Together the two got Ray’s heart going again. Mr Towell was then rushed to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance where he made a full recovery.
Says Ray Towell, who went to the local police station to thank Lee Johnson, ‘It is just amazing to me I am still here. How lucky can you be? I am extremely lucky that the right people were there at the right time. What they did, it means my life to me.’ PCSO Johnson, 39, has been in the police for five-and-a-half years. ‘All those first aid sessions I attended – they have proved their worth. They work,’ Lee Johnson said. All police officers take regular first aid training and refresher courses.
