Off-duty officer saves man's life at rail station

3 hours ago

Angela FergusonNorth West

News image — Ch Insp Mike Parker was off-duty when he saw a man had collapsed at a railway station in Salford

Greater Manchester Police Two police officers in uniform are smiling while standing next to each other and holding a framed award certificate which says 'chief constable's commendation' and has the name 'chief inspector Michael Parker' written on it. The man on the left has short grey hair and a beard while the man on the right has receding grey hair. They both have a number of medals on their jacket. — Ch Insp Mike Parker was off-duty when he saw a man had collapsed at a railway station in Salford

An off-duty police officer has told how he saved a man's life by giving him CPR at a train station.

Chief Insp Michael Parker said he was waiting for a train at Salford Crescent station in Greater Manchester on 6 June last year when he saw a man had collapsed on the floor and was not breathing.

He said adrenaline kicked in and he "just did what any member of the public would have done", giving him CPR for 45 minutes until he was "shocked" to hear he had regained a pulse.

Parker said he did not consider himself "a hero" and the "most important thing" was the man "would be able to see his family again".

He had performed CPR for 10 minutes on his own before paramedics arrived.

Parker, who works in Greater Manchester Police's roads policing unit, continued the chest compressions for a further 35 minutes to allow medical staff to continue with other life-saving treatment.

A GMP spokesperson said that when the air ambulance arrived a medic confirmed that the man had regained a pulse thanks to Parker's actions.

'Best chance'

Parker said: "Ultimately, I don't see myself as a hero - I just did what any member of the public would have done, it is just a coincidence I was there at that time as an off-duty police officer."

He said he had drawn on his training and experience and "just focused on giving him the best chance of survival possible until further help arrived".

"I was shocked to hear that he had regained a pulse as I have done CPR several times earlier on in my career and sadly, they have never made it," he said.

"So, to hear that this man would be able to see his family again, was the most important thing."

Parker's actions have been commended at GMP's long service awards, where he was presented with a Chief Constable's commendation.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.