Two lives saved by heroic actions of Lewes PCSO's

The team have been praised for their exceptional bravery in dealing with two separate medical emergencies

Author: Maria GreenwoodPublished 25th Mar 2025

Three Lewes community support officers are being praised after saving the lives of two bystanders.

On two separate occasions Alan Ash, Karen Mannings and Richard Amos' quick thinking CPR skills meant two members of the public lived to tell the tale after cardiac arrests last month.

On 22 February, PCSO Alan Ash was sitting in traffic near the Cuilfail Tunnel when a member of the public alerted him to a possible medical emergency. Without hesitation, PCSO Ash investigated and quickly began CPR on the individual. Paramedics later confirmed that his quick thinking and actions were instrumental in saving the man's life.

The second incident happened on 2 March, PCSOs Karen Manning and Richard Amos were on patrol when they were flagged down to assist a male who had collapsed and fallen off his bicycle, he was unconscious and not breathing. The pair immediately commenced CPR and managed the scene, directing a member of the public to retrieve the nearest defibrillator. The ambulance crew arrived and assisted with CPR, using the defibrillator to regain a pulse and circulation. The man was taken to hospital, and his bicycle was taken to Lewes Police Station.

A member of his family said: "Dad's recovery has been fantastic. He is off all life support, up and walking and talking. We were told the CPR he received absolutely saved his life, and he would not still be here with us without Karen and Richard. We are unbelievably thankful and cannot express how much it means to us that he's still here with us."

The families of both individuals have expressed their profound gratitude to Alan, Karen, and Richard for their life-saving actions.

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