Two officers have been praised for their life-saving actions after helping an unconscious man who was close to death in a Middlesbrough street.
The husband-and-wife duo, PC Liam Goodall of Durham Constabulary and DS Jayne Goodall from Cleveland Police, were off-duty and driving home on October 6 when they spotted a man lying face down on the footpath of Glendale Road.
Without any hesitation, the couple jumped out of their car and ran over to the man, placing themselves back on duty.
After speaking to the crowd that had gathered, it became apparent that the officers were the only people there that could offer any kind of medical assistance.
They were told by witnesses that the man had been out running when he suddenly yelled, grabbed his chest and dropped to the floor.
After noticing he had stopped breathing, Jayne rushed to start CPR while Liam rang the ambulance service.
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They both then took turns carrying out CPR, while paramedics arrived and treated the man with adrenaline and a defibrillator.
The man - later identified as 40-year-old Oliver Williams - eventually began to stabilise and was taken to James Cook University Hospital where he spent time in intensive care.
He was later released home to recover with partner Caroline and their children Esther and Sidney.
Oliver has now made a full recovery and was able to meet with the officers earlier this week following his successful radio appeal to track down the people ‘who saved his life’.
He and his family are now fundraising for a defibrillator machine to be installed in the Tollesby area and Oliver said he couldn't thank Liam and Jayne enough for what they did.
He added: "Without their life-saving actions, I wouldn't be here today.
"I'll forever be in debt to both Liam and Jayne, they really are real-life super heroes.
“I am hugely passionate about raising the awareness of defibrillators and fundraising to hopefully get one installed in the area in which I found myself in trouble and if possible, in other areas across Teesside."
DS Jayne Goodall said: “I am really pleased that we could help Oliver and that he was able to get the medical care that he needed to make a full recovery.
"In order to help others who may find themselves in a similar situation, myself and Liam are now fundraising to get a defibrillator machine installed so that it can be accessed quickly if needed.
“I’m sure that anyone would have done the same if they had found themselves in our position, we joined policing to help people and we were glad to be able to help Oliver.”
PC Liam Goodall added: “Before this happened, myself and Jayne weren't aware of the locations of any local defibrillators, particularly on an evening.
"We have since researched this and found that survival rates for those suffering a cardiac arrest are 20 per cent higher with the use of a defibrillator, which is why we are now coming together with Oliver and his family to fundraise.
“I am pleased that Oliver is now recovering at home with his family and is receiving the medical care that he needs.”
Anyone wishing to donate towards a defibrillator can do so via this GoFundMe page.
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