A POLICEMAN labelled a hero for saving a pensioner’s life after he collapsed from a heart attack during Kinver’s Remembrance Day service has insisted it was a ‘team effort’.

PC Ian Fortey delivered lifesaving CPR and mouth-to-mouth to 76-year-old Tony Marsden, a marshal who was stewarding the parade in Kinver High Street on Sunday, November 11.

The 45-year-old officer, who knew Mr Marsden from the latter’s time as a police volunteer, delivered around 20 minutes of resuscitation before ambulance services arrived.

He was assisted by PCSO Paula Wilkes, retired policeman Mark Whittard and firefighters, and said it was a collective effort that saved Mr Marsden’s life.

PC Fortey said: “I watched Tony fall to the ground and immediately knew something wasn’t right so Paula and I rushed to his side.

“Between us and Mark, we loosened Tony’s clothing and we could see he wasn’t looking very well – we established he wasn’t breathing and didn’t have a pulse.

“As I performed chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth, I asked Paula to get a defibrillator from the fire engine at the back of the parade.”

PC Fortey, who is based at Wombourne with the force’s South Staffordshire unit, added he will never know whether it was the CPR or subsequent defibrillator use that saved Mr Marsden’s life but said everyone involved played a part.

He said: “It’s a good story of the three emergency services coming together. It was very much a team effort.

“Tony used to volunteer when Kinver Police Station was open but I hadn’t seen him for a number of years so it was a bit of a surprise to have been giving him CPR.

“But he is a good man, one of life’s good guys and it’s very rare that incidents attended by the police have happy endings – this was one of those times.”

Mr Marsden has returned home after being treated at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and his family have contacted Staffordshire Police to express their gratitude.

Chief Inspector Mark Ward, Commander for South Staffordshire, said: “All officers are trained in giving first aid and this shows just how important that skill can be when they are out in the community.

“Prompt action by PC Fortey helped to save this man’s life. He showed amazing strength of character and I am really proud of the efforts of everyone involved.”