After fire in flats - crews save life of man who has collapsed in unrelated incident.

Firefighters clearing up after a tower block blaze on 10 October were then called upon to use their ‘trauma training’ skills to bring a man back to life after he had collapsed.

As crews from Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service (BLFRS) checked equipment after a fire on the 12th floor of Green Court, Luton they were alerted to the fact that a man on the 4th floor had collapsed in an unconnected incident.

The ambulance service had already left the scene at the close of the fire, so BLFRS personnel attended to the man. Whilst administering oxygen the man stopped breathing and CPR was commenced. Crews from Stopsley and Dunstable continued with CPR for approx 15 - 20 minutes and then on arrival of a paramedic continued to assist. The man was successfully resuscitated and then carried from the 4th floor as the power and lifts were still out.

Incident Commander Dave Fothergill said: ‘Whilst making up equipment from the first incident, a fire involving the top five floors of the flats crews were made aware of a man collapsed on the 4th floor. Both incidents were taxing for crews in different ways but both were dealt with professionally and successfully with the young man from the second incident undoubtedly alive as a result of their actions. It was an exceptional piece of work.’

BLFRS has recently launched a service-wide trauma training programme for all front-line staff enabling them to use life-saving equipment on casualties where paramedics are not at the scene.

The tower block fire also saw firefighters using ‘drag bags’ - developed by BLFRS to help crews carrying equipment up long flights of stairs. As the lifts were out in the building, crews had to run up and down 14 flights of stairs - the "drag bags" are designed to enable them to move more quickly.

Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller praised the work of the crews: 'They acted with top class professionalism putting into practice the very latest training and equipment pioneered by BLFRS.'