A man who suffered a heart attack in front of a picket line, during the recent four day strike over the government’s pension plans, has thanked firefighters for saving his life.
Michael Johnson, 49, collapsed outside Darlington fire station leaving quick thinking firefighters to grab trauma equipment – using a defibrillator on the man before carrying out CPR.
Mr Johnson has now been released from hospital and is making a full recovery. He thanked firefighters and supported their campaign for a fair pension scheme.
Richard Fretwell, a firefighter who was at the scene, said: “Firefighters are forced into taking industrial action reluctantly because we understand our position within the community.
“Fortunately for this gentleman, our picket line was in the right place at the right time to give him the best possible chance of a full recovery.
“Everybody involved in administering CPR acted on impulse using their professional skills. For once our dispute with the Government couldn’t have been further from our minds.
“Everybody is delighted with the speed of Michael’s remarkable recovery and we’d like to thank him and his family for expressing their gratitude towards our part of his care.”
