A FATHER-OF-THREE has called for basic live saving skills to form part of the school syllabus as he was reunited with those who came to his rescue when he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Mike Jones, 63, said he was eternally grateful to the part everyone played in keeping him alive when he collapsed while playing a table tennis league match at Ouston Community Centre, near Chester-le-Street.

He said: “CPR has saved my life. If you could only put it in the school syllabus along with basic first aid skills it would stay with kids for the rest of their lives.

“It really could be the difference between life and death.”

Mr Jones of Cramlington, Northumberland, spoke as he was reunited with PSCO Mark Rodgers of Durham Police, fellow table tennis player Robbie Beckwith and paramedic Kevin Smith, for first time since the dramatic events on June 19.

PCSO Rodgers, who is based at Consett police station and was off duty at the time, was playing himself and dashed to help when Mr Jones collapsed.

He said: “I checked to see if Mike was breathing and when I realised he wasn’t I started CPR. My first aid training just kicked in.

“It was a really hot evening and it was incredibly hard work.”

That is when Mr Beckwith, who had also been playing stepped in to help - first helping to count the number of compressions and before taking over CPR for a short while.

He added: “I did first aid course 20 years ago, so could remember the basics. I thought “I have to concentrate, help Mark and make sure Mike survives”.”

PSCO Rodgers added: “Thankfully we did enough until the paramedics arrived and could take over.

“I am just pleased we were there and played our part in ensuring Mike survived.”

Paramedic Kenton Levitt of the North East Ambulance Service was first on the scene and used a defibrillator to administered a shock and start Mr Jones’ heart again. Paramedic Kevin Smith and an emergency care assistant Louise Green continued treatment before transporting him to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Mr Smith said: “It doesn’t matter how good your CPR skills are, whether a professional or lay person, anything is better than nothing. It is an essential skill. Mr Jones said: “I owe them my life. My family wife and three kids are extremely grateful.”