A POLICE archivist has hailed two of his colleagues heroes after their quick-thinking actions helped safe his life.

Dave Nelson was found minutes from death on the floor of his office in a warehouse in Peterlee after suffering a heart attack.

Unaware of the exact diagnosis but realising the severity of the situation, Sarah Glendinning raised the alarm and called first aider Dave Horrocks, who works in scientific support.

As soon as he saw Mr Nelson on the floor he called for the defibrillator and Ms Glendinning rushed to fetch it.

While they waited for an ambulance, they did CPR before Mr Horrocks administered a life-saving shock using the portable defibrillator.

Mr Nelson said: "If there had been only the slightest variation on what took place then who knows what would have happened.

“Dave and Sarah know of the depth of my gratitude for what they did for me and although the nurse said I have used up all my luck they are at the top of my lottery win list."

Doctors say without the quick-thinking actions of his colleagues and the use of the defibrillator, he would not be alive.

Mr Horrocks said: “I think there is a bit of a myth that defibrillators are scary but they are not.

“My training kicked in but until that day I never had to use one. It was quite a traumatic experience which, fingers crossed I hope never have to go through again but you just never know.

“These things save lives and people should know where they are. It is better to try than do nothing at all.”

Mr Horrocks and Ms Glendinning have been presented with resuscitation certificates from the Royal Humane Society following the events of August 6 last year.

Mr Nelson, who runs on a daily basis, is well on the road to recovery.

He added: “You think it will never happen to you and everyone has this idea that it will only happen to overweight, unfit and unhealthy people but this is just not the case.”