TWO police officers, both from Leighton, who fought a life and death battle to revive an Asian man despite his family’s insistence that he was dead, have been awarded national life-saving honours.
PCs Daniel Bales,47, and Michael Zdan, 25, who serve with Herts Police, were on duty when they were called to aid paramedics at the scene of a collapsed man at his home in Hemel Hempstead.
The family were trying to start rituals that follow a person’s death, including washing the man’s feet, but paramedics were still attempting to save his life. The officers, along with PC Anthony Watson, 38, of Luton, assisted the paramedics and managed to restart his heart.
Now the three officers have been awarded Resuscitation Certificates by the Royal Humane Society in recognition of their efforts on August 23 last year.
And on Friday they won the personal praise of the society’s secretary, Dick Wilkinson, as he announced the awards at the society’s London headquarters.
He said: “The three officers were sent to assist an ambulance crew who were being hindered in their work. The elderly man’s family, of Asian origin, insisted he was dead and were attempting to start rituals. One was washing the man’s feet as the medics were working.
“The officers managed to reason with the family and move them clear. They then went back to help the paramedics, taking it in turns to do external chest massage whilst the paramedics administered adrenaline and used the defibrillator.
“The patient was shocked four times before his heart re-started.
“The officers then accompanied the man to hospital to make sure there were no further difficulties with the family. On the way to the hospital the man continued to breathe unaided but sadly he died later.
“Nevertheless, these officers did everything they could in very trying circumstances, and gave this man a real chance of survival. They thoroughly deserve these awards.”
The presentation of the awards is likely to be made on May 10 at Herts Police headquarters.