A guitarist who saved his bandmate’s life after he suffered a heart attack mid-performance has received a prestigious award.

Andy Thomas leapt into action during a gig at a pub when his bandmate, drummer Russell Poole from Bridport, collapsed during the band's fourth song.

Andy, a trained nurse, performed life-saving CPR for 12 minutes, with his girlfriend Karen Baker taking over for three more minutes before paramedics arrived and a defibrillator was used and succeeded in re-starting Russell’s heart.

Russell was then airlifted to Bournemouth Hospital, put into an induced coma for several days and went on to make a recovery.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:
The News reported in August how the three-piece band, the V8 Hearts, performed a 'back from the dead' gig, their first performance after the incident with Russell resuming drumming duties. 

The V8 Hearts play punk and rock songs from artists including David Bowie, The Cult and Foo Fighters.

Now psychiatric nurse Andy and NHS worker Karen have been awarded top national life-saving honours, Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificates, for saving Russell's life. And they have also won the personal praise of Andrew Chapman, secretary of the society.

Russell, 59, collapsed while the band performed at the Golden Lion pub in Weymouth during the coronation weekend.

Andy, from Dorchester, said: “I had no idea (about the award) and then Karen said, ‘you’re a hero and I am going to nominate you.’

“It’s quite a nice thing to have.”

Karen didn’t want any recognition for her part in saving Russell’s life - however the society were keen to track down the second person involved, and she later revealed her identity to the organisation.

Lead singer and guitarist Glen Holloway cleared the stage area and stayed on the phone to Russell’s wife and kept her informed about what was happening.

Andy said: “The three of us supported each other.”

After the incident, Andy had to take a few days off work as he explained that although he has performed CPR on someone before, he has never had to perform it on a friend.

Russell, who works at Palmers Brewery, was accompanied by his wife and Andy during a visit to thank life-savers at Henstridge Airfield, home of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (below).

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

Secretary of the society Andrew Chapman said: ”If they had not acted as swiftly and efficiently as they did it is unlikely Russell would have survived.

“In situations like this it is essential that if CPR is to work it needs to be started as soon as possible. If it doesn’t actually re-start the heart, it ensures that the person will have the best possible chance of survival when the medics arrive, as was the case here. Andrew and Karen richly deserve the awards they are to receive. They were undoubtedly the right people in the right place at the right time.

“This is another of many cases we see which emphasise the value of as many people as possible, not just members of the emergency services learning how to administer CPR. It can, as it did here, save a life.”