FIREFIGHTERS who left a picket line to save the life of a man who was suffering a heart attack outside their station have been commended for their actions.

Mike Johnson, 49, had just finished playing a game of football when he collapsed outside Darlington fire station on November 4 last year.

Mr Johnson, who had no history of heart trouble, was in a critical condition and at one point his heart stopped beating.

If it was not for the quick actions of a group of firemen who were outside the station on strike, then he would almost certainly have died.

They used a defibrillator to shock his heart back into action and administered oxygen and CPR until an ambulance arrived to take Mr Johnson to James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough.

Five of the seven County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue staff who ran to help Mr Johnson attended their headquarters in Durham today (Thursday, February 12) to receive their certificates.

They were firefighters David Parker, David Charman, David Johnson and Richard Fretwell, along with station manager John Jameson.

Crew managers Stuart and Sam Rye, also commended for their involvement, were unable to attend.

All of those commended, apart from Mr Jameson, were taking part in a four-day national strike as part of a dispute with government over pensions at the time.

Stuart Errington, deputy chief fire officer for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Without the actions of those who left the picket line, the effective delivery of rescue breaths, CPR and the early access to a defibrillator, the outcome of this incident could have been very different.

“We are pleased to be able to commend and thank all of those who were involved incident during this presentation today.”