Honeymoon hero saves two lives

posted by: M44 - Friday 26th September, 2008

An Irlam man helped to save the lives of two people on his honeymoon thanks to his first aid and survival training.



28 year old Vinny Jones from Merlin Road and his new bride Victoria, also 28, were enjoying their honeymoon in Turkey with several other family members.

The men were white water rafting when another group, who were out on the water at the same time ran into trouble and overturned

Vinny said: "We didn't think it was serious at first but then a woman came floating past. Her life jacket was keeping her underwater but we managed to haul her to safety.

It was then we heard shouting, one of the women from the other raft was screaming ‘He's dead, he's dead.’

The instructor on our raft was dealing with the woman we had rescued so he said ‘Is there anyone with life saving techniques who can go and help?’

My father-in-law Barry nominated me because I've done courses with the North West Divers Sub-Aqua Club at Irlam Pool."

The bloke had turned purple. I checked for a pulse but there wasn't any.

I immediately put him in the recovery position, cleared his airways and then started chest compressions to try and get his heart started.

After a couple of minutes I was about to start mouth to mouth when the bloke spluttered into life."

Vinny hauled the man to safety on a rock ledge but the man began fitting so Vinny settled him and managed to get him into a raft. Everyone on board kept him warm until they got to the end of the course and the man was taken to hospital.

Vinny said "If it wasn't for the first aid and survival courses I have done with the sub-aqua club, I wouldn't have been able to help the bloke."

The man, in his thirties, was later said to be recovering well.

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