QUICK-thinking workers helped save a colleague's life when he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Maintenance man Dirk Charnock was at UAP locks and hardware offices yesterday when he collapsed.

Dirk, 74, stayed a few minutes late at work at the request of operations director, Wendy Rushton, when he collapsed.

But thanks to the quick-thinking and first aid training of his colleagues at UAP the team sprung into action.

They called an ambulance, placed Dirk in the recovery position and called on first aiders, Julie and Lyndsey, to help, as Wendy deployed the company’s emergency defibrillator.

Wendy said: “I had familiarised myself with the defibrillator when it was first installed, but none of us has ever used it.

“Everything happened so quickly that we just worked together to help Dirk and, as soon as I connected the battery into the defibrillator unit, it gave me very clear instructions on what I needed to do.”

Warehouse supervisor Julie did chest compressions, while sales administrator, Lyndsey, gave Dirk mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The ambulance arrived 20 minutes after the alarm was first raised and paramedics praised the UAP team for saving Dirk’s life with their first aid skills and rapid response.

Dirk is now recovering in North Manchester General Hospital and his wife Kay has been into UAP’s offices to thank her husband’s colleagues for saving his life.

Lyndsey said: “I trained as a nurse before joining UAP and I am one of seven first aiders on site, but I never expected to have to use those skills to save someone’s life in the office.

“Dirk had been scheduled to go home a few minutes earlier and, if he’d left on time and had the cardiac arrest in the car or at home, it’s unlikely he would have pulled through.

“We are all relieved to know he’s now doing well in hospital.”

UAP installed the defibrillator at the company’s offices a year ago but have never used the device before.

The company is now urging other businesses to have a defibrillator available and ensure first aid skills are up to date.

Wendy added: “Without the defibrillator and the swift actions of his colleagues, Dirk would not have made it, which is a very sobering thought for us all.

“We are very proud of the way the team responded in an emergency and wish Dirk a speedy recovery.”