Warrant Officer Class Two Jamie Davis has been commended for his actions on the football pitch after his quick thinking saved the life of a player.
The Royal Signals, senior non-commissioned officer based in Winchester received the Royal Humane Society award in a recent presentation ceremony at North Yorkshire Police Headquarters.
On finding the player unresponsive I started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), despite not having an in-date first aid certificate, it was my army training that kicked in.
In December 2020, Jamie was in charge of a friendly football game at an astro turf complex in York when a civilian player collapsed on the pitch adjacent to his.
Alerted to the unfolding emergency, the former player turned referee, said: “I quickly realised that none of those present knew what to do.”
“On finding the player unresponsive I started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), despite not having an in-date first aid certificate, it was my army training that kicked in.
“I only did what every other soldier would have done in a similar situation.”
Nominated for his speedy intervention, CPR and defibrillation assistance that lasted 20 minutes, it was his reaction that allowed the emergency services to stabilize the patient whose heart valves had collapsed. The valuable ‘golden time’ to start the compressions kept the air and blood flowing and saved the footballer’s life.
On receiving his Resuscitation Certificate from the Chief Constable for North Yorkshire, Lisa Winward, he said: “I feel honoured to receive the award, but the outcome of him being alive and living with his family is reward enough.
I feel honoured to receive the award, but the outcome of him being alive and living with his family is reward enough.
“I am still in contact with the football player, he messages me on the anniversary of the event, I was able to meet up with him, it was nice to see him in better circumstances.
“I would hope that everyone would assist in that type of situation and just try their best, I felt lucky that my actions resulted in the positive outcome.”
The Royal Humane Society is a charity that recognises acts of bravery in men, women and children who have saved, or tried to save someone else’s life.
The Resuscitation Certificate is awarded to people who have undertaken a successful resuscitation of someone who was at one stage ‘seemingly dead.'
Founded in 1774 by two medical men who were keen to promote techniques of resuscitation it has made over 200,000 awards; notable recipients include civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, author Bram Stoker and explorer David Hempleman-Adams the only person to have won two awards.