Man's praise for north-east police who helped save his life

A man has met the north-east police officers who helped save his life after he collapsed by the roadside.

PC Tim Addy and PC Dave Robb were on patrol when they were flagged down at a layby in Bridge of Don by members of the public on February 27.

James Geraghty had fallen ill and stopped breathing when on a family day out. Members of the public had stopped to help him by performing CPR. 

The officers successfully used a defibrillator and continued to provide first aid until Mr Geraghty was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. 

The defibrillator used is one of 10 in the region donated by Sandra and Gordon McKandie following the death of their son who died after being involved in a collision through a charity called Kieran's Legacy. 

James, who has since recovered from the incident, said: "I can’t thank enough everyone who stopped to help when I took unwell, including the members of the public who stopped as well as PCs Addy and Robb.

"My thanks must also go to Keiran’s Legacy for providing the lifesaving equipment and I also want to pay tribute to the Scottish Ambulance Service and staff at NHS Grampian who looked after me."

Keiran's Legacy has also donated to six road policing vehicles across the Highlands and Islands division. 

Since being installed in February 2017, officers have been deployed 71 times using them on 24 occasions. 

PCs Addy and Robb said: "This incident proves how invaluable it is being able to carry a defibrillator with us when out on patrol. 

"We were flagged down by members of the public within moments of the gentleman taking unwell and that ability to utilise the device almost immediately will have helped save his life.

"We arrived at the scene, saw the gentleman lying on the ground and our training immediately kicked in.

"This was a distressing incident for the family, with his young son and wife watching their loved one being worked on. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending."