CHELMSFORD: Builder praised for saving colleague's life

A BUILDER has been praised by paramedics for saving the life of one of his colleagues who fell from a roof in Galleywood.

The 57-year-old was working on a roof in Well Lane when he fell, only for his quick-thinking colleague to perform CPR and help save his life.

The ambulance was on scene within six minutes, with student paramedic Stuart Fairley, backed up by his crew and the Essex Air Ambulance, arriving first in a rapid response vehicle.

Fairley said: "The patient's workmate was carrying out CPR.

"The patient wasn't breathing and had fallen onto some rubble and leaves.

"I encouraged him to continue CPR while I prepared the defibrillator. Once the pads were on, the patient was shocked once and we managed to get a pulse back."

The patient was then anaesthetised and flown to Royal London Hospital, having also sustained some fractures, including broken ribs and collarbone, from the fall.

Fairley paid tribute to the patient's co-worker, calling the rescue attempt "a brilliant joint effort".

He added: "It's rare to get a patient back once they're in cardiac arrest.

"This shows how giving first aid in those vital first moments can help improve the chances of survival."