TWO EXPERIENCED police officers put their first aid skills into practice to literally bring a man back from the dead.

Sixty-one-year-old David Venn said he owed his life to the pair of passing detectives who came to his aid when he suddenly collapsed after a routine gym session.

DC Tony Robinson and Paul Hadden, now back in uniform as a sergeant, have been honoured for their actions. They were calling into the reception area of Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside ground at Chester-le-Street, on an inquiry last June.

Mr Venn was on his way out after using the gym when he suddenly collapsed.

Believing he had suffered an epileptic fit the duo concentrated on making him comfortable, but when he stopped breathing they began pounding his chest in a bid to revive the retired pharmaceutical company production manager.

Sgt Hadden continued heart massage for 25 minutes as DC Robinson gave mouth-to-mouth.

The cause appeared hopeless after a duty doctor at the ground gave an injection of adrenalin and a paramedic used a defribrillator, both without success.

Efforts to revive Mr Venn continued with the use of an oxygen mask in an ambulance en-route to hospital.

But with hope apparently fading as it pulled up outside Durham's University Hospital of North Durham, Mr Venn suddenly gasped and started breathing.

He spent the next week in hospital, but made a full recovery, with doctors putting his revival down to the effectiveness of the officers' first aid response. The collapse was said to be down to an unforeseen blocked artery.

Despite a combined police service of more than 50 years, it was the first time either officer had put into practice what they learned on force training sessions.

The trio came together again at force headquarters recently, when the officers were presented with certificates of merit from St John Ambulance Durham chairman commander, Mrs Sheenah Davies.

Mr Venn, who travelled from his home in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, with his wife Jill, said: "I wouldn't be here if not for these guys. It's hard to imagine just how grateful I am."

The officers said they were grateful their training was finally put to good use.