A LIFESAVER from Cullompton who resuscitated a friend after a heart attack is backing a campaign to get football fans to learn first aid.

Chris Richards rushed to the aid of his friend, Paul Tapp, when he went into cardiac arrest during a charity football match at Cullompton Rangers two years ago.

Using his first aid knowledge and the defibrillator from his car, which he keeps as part of his job, Chris saved Paul’s life.

Paul said: “I felt fine before the match – no different to any other morning.

“I’d never had any heart problems – I try to eat healthly, I’ve never smoked and I only drink socially at weekends.

“It was quite an emotional day. I was extremely lucky – there are no two ways about it.”

Chris said: “I was just doing what I’ve been trained to do – it just so happened that I was in the right place at the right time and had the right equipment to help save Paul’s life.

“If more people had these vital skills we can give people like Paul a better chance of surviving.”

Cullompton Rangers have since bought their own defibrillator for use at matches thanks to an anonymous donation.

Chris is now calling on football fans to learn first aid and support St John Ambulance’s Celebrate Like a Hero campaign.

The campaign advert features an everyday emergency and someone giving lifesaving first aid as Premier League commentator Martin Tyler describes the action.

The tongue-in-cheek film asks whether, in a life or death situation, viewers would be a hero or a spectator.

St John Ambulance’s South- West regional director, Steve Hargreaves, said: “Our volunteers have been keeping fans safe at football matches for over a century, but this September we want to make sure fans can be the difference between life and death themselves, inside or outside the turnstiles.”

For more information about Celebrate Like a Hero and to watch the campaign film, visit www.sja.org.uk/football