An off-duty Rotherhithe police officer whose quick actions saved the life of a man suffering a heart attack on the Tube has been honoured at an awards ceremony.
Inspector Jim Cole, who also leads the safer neighbourhood team in Rotherhithe, was awarded a Royal Humane Society Certificate of Commendation by Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey during a ceremony on Monday.
Inspector Cole, who is based at Peckham police station, was off duty and travelling on the Tube at about 11pm on February 6 last year when the train ground to a halt in Victoria.
He heard a woman calling for help and then saw a woman whose husband was slumped against her.
Inspector Cole went to help and found that the man, aged in his 60s, was gasping for breath and his lips were turning blue.
He put the man on the floor and checked for vital signs but didn’t find any and so began to give CPR.
He asked a member of the public to pull the communication cord to get help, and another to ask the station staff for a defibrillator.
When the defibrillator arrived Inspector Cole, with the help of a member of public, ripped off the man’s shirt and applied the pads.
One shock was delivered followed by further CPR. The man began to breathe and Inspector Cole put him in the recovery position.
When the paramedics arrived Inspector Cole handed the casualty over.
The next day, he visited the man in St Thomas’ Hospital and found he had undergone surgery and had a pacemaker and a number of stents fitted.
Southwark Borough Commander Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Messinger said: “Inspector Cole’s quick actions helped save the life of a member of public.
“His actions prove that officers are never off duty and they are always there looking out for members of the community.”
