Community first responder wins volunteer award

Martin Spruce won Volunteer of the Year at the service’s Beyond the Call of Duty awards in November.

The 64-year-old, a self-employed electrician, is available every hour of every day to respond to patients when needed in his local area.

Martin said: “I love doing it. I care about people and the appreciation you get is tremendous. When I walk in, they are frantic, but when they see me, it’s the relief of having someone there.

“It’s down to us to do what we can until the ambulance arrives. I comfort people and I do my best. It’s not always easy, especially when I’m doing CPR on someone I know, but then the family comes back to me and tell me what it means to them.

“I did CPR on one lady for an hour and shocked her four times and she was talking to her daughter that night. When you’re able to do that, it’s really special.”

Yvonne Ormston, NEAS chief executive, said: “Our Beyond the Call of Duty Awards give us the chance to reward just a handful of those who provide amazing care, skill and dedication to patients every day. Working for an emergency service regularly means putting others first at the expense of personal and family lives, both on the front line and in a supporting role.”