Off-duty Coastguard officer saves life with CPR training

Coastguard Rescue Officer Graham Lawton helped save a life on his way home last month, thanks to the CPR training all HM Coastguard volunteers receive.

The member of Southport Coastguard Rescue Team would like to see everyone learn Basic Life Support training, which includes CPR, to ensure further lives could be saved.

“He would not have made it without the CPR, it’s that simple,” he said.

Two Air Ambulances were sent to assist


Graham came across the collapsed cyclist on the A565 on 13 February and, alongside an A&E nurse and paramedic, was able to administer urgent medical care including use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

The professional diver was driving home from the Coastguard station in his uniform, when he saw a small group of people on the side of the road at the junction of the A565 and Sugar Stubbs Lane at Banks, near Southport.

Seeing one person doing CPR on someone, he immediately pulled over, concerned about what was going on.

“We (Coastguard Rescue Officers) all have medical first aid training, including CPR, so I thought I might be able to help,” he said. “I also carry my own defibrillator and thought this might be needed too.

“I asked if anyone was medically trained and the woman giving chest compressions said she was a paramedic and the man on airway control said he was an A&E nurse. Two others that had stopped were also CPR trained.

“So it was clearly not that guy’s time to die – not that many people can do CPR normally.”

He added: “It goes to show just how vital a skill it is. That man is alive because he was lucky that those that stopped had this training. I really would urge others to do the course, it isn’t that hard to learn but it could be the difference between life and death.”

All Coastguard Rescue Officers are trained at an enhanced level of pre-hospital Casualty Care including Basic Life Support such as CPR, airway control and AED use.

The group worked together, administering three shocks from the defibrillator, and breathing for the casualty using a BVM (Bag Valve Mask). They maintained the casualty until the arrival of an NHS Critical Care Team by air ambulance.

Graham added: “While the AED was an essential piece of kit for this incident, the single most important kit was the CPR training everyone on scene had received. It’s a skill that saves lives every day, and more people are learning all the time.

“Joining the Coastguard is a great way of learning Basic Life Support and other casualty care techniques. It's not difficult, and it gives you the ability and confidence to help another person when they can't help themselves.”

If you're interested in exploring more about becoming a Coastguard volunteer, click here. 

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