Port Glasgow ambulance man saves pensioner's life at Six Nations match

Calum Rodgers has been praised for resuscitating Jim Wilson after he collapsed on his way to Scotland’s recent Six Nations clash with Ireland at Murrayfield.

Jim’s friend Colin, who was with him when the incident occurred, told the Telegraph he had feared the worst when he was unable to find his pal’s pulse.

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But Calum, who is a 999 technician based at Greenock ambulance station, quickly administered CPR and brought Mr Wilson back.

Humble hero Calum said that he had just been doing his job.

He added: “I was waiting to get on the tram at the park and ride and my mum spotted a guy lying down.

“I thought he might have fallen over but when I got there he wasn’t responding properly so I checked him out.

“I started CPR, that was all I could do, and thankfully after a minute or two he came back.

“He was agitated when he came back but all it took was a bit of reassurance and he was okay.

“I sat with him until the ambulance arrived, it was there very quickly because it was a purple call.

“He was doing something called agonal breathing, which meant he wasn’t breathing effectively, and he had no pulse.

“Even with equipment you don’t get people back sometimes, I’m so glad he pulled through.

“I was just doing my job, I was just doing what I’d have done if I was in uniform.”

Jim’s pal Colin Johnstone, 84, recalled the moment he thought he had lost his friend.

He said: “We’d been walking to get the tram in to Murrayfield.

“I turned around and Jim was lying on the deck.

“It was the greatest relief I’ve ever felt when Calum said he was an ambulance worker and asked how he could help.

“I thought I was losing Jim, I couldn’t feel a pulse or anything.

“I’m ever so grateful to Calum for appearing and helping.

“I’ll never forget the moment he arrived.”

After hearing of Calum’s heroics, Jim’s son Alan put out an appeal through a Scottish rugby supporters’ group on Facebook, which was seen by Calum’s dad.

Alan and the family were then able to get in touch with the 30-year-old and express their thanks.

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The pair were soon reunited, thanks to the efforts of Greenock Wanderers member Iain Crighton, who runs the Facebook page Alan used to put out his appeal.

Iain invited Jim, of Denny, and Calum, along with their families, to hospitality at the local club’s final game of the season.

Calum said it was an emotional moment to meet Jim again.

He added: “That’s the first time in five years in the ambulance service that I’ve ever met someone I’ve saved.

“I’ve probably dealt with over 70 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, I’ve never seen anybody recover like that.

“It felt really good to see him again, I was sitting across from him at the dinner table chuffed to bits.

“I hope telling people about this raises awareness about how important it is to know CPR.

“We’re hoping to meet up annually through at the rugby club now for the last game of the season in hospitality, Iain Crighton from the Wanderers put that together for us, which was great of him.

“It was really nice to get a thank-you and meet Jim again, I found it all really emotional.”

Jim’s son Alan today expressed his family’s gratitude to Calum for his quick thinking and swift action.

He said: “He got my father back.

“By all accounts he had stopped breathing and he had no pulse, so Calum being an off-duty ambulance worker was the right man to be there at the right time.

“I got a hold of Calum and managed to phone him and thank him on behalf of the family.

“We’re so grateful to Calum for what he did.

“He’s a very down-to-earth guy.

“He told me he was just doing his job, guys like that walk among us.

“One minute he was saving lives the next minute he was at the rugby.

“We appreciate everybody’s well wishes and we want to thank everyone at Greenock Wanderers rugby club for having us down.”