Leisure centre team to be awarded for its bravery

Northumberland leisure centre staff who saved the life of retired teacher who had a heart attack while taking part in a fitness class are to be honoured by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK).

Julian Willans, 67, had just completed a session on a treadmill when he suddenly collapsed at Concordia Leisure Centre, Cramlington.

The centre staff quickly responded giving Julian cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and rang the emergency services.

The team of ten are each to be presented with prestigious RLSS UK certificates to recognise their actions on Monday 25 January.

Di Steer, RLSS UK Chief Executive said: “We were pleased to hear about the leisure centre staff working as a fantastic and efficient team to save the life of Julian and felt they deserved to be recognised in some way.

“An incident like this highlights how important it is to be trained in CPR. Well done to the team.”