‘Forever my hero’

Garforth postman Colin Hoult has been roundly praised for saving the life of one of his regular and now ‘eternally grateful’ customers.

Before the incident, first-aider Colin had often wondered how he would react when called upon to apply his training. Thanks to Mrs Fisher, he now has his answer.

‘I’ve been a first-aider for a number of years now and apart from applying the odd plaster here and there and dealing with a nose bleed, my first-aid career had been pretty uneventful,’ said Colin. ‘I had often wondered how I would react in a more serious situation and if I’d remember all or anything I’d been taught.

‘I arrived at Mrs Fisher’s house to find her stood in her hallway. She said she wasn’t feeling very well and felt dizzy. I asked if she’d seen a doctor, but before she had a chance to answer she said she needed to be sick and ran into her kitchen.

‘After I followed her inside, I found her with her head over the kitchen sink. She then started convulsing and looked a little like she was fitting. I moved closer to her just in case, and just at that moment, her whole body shut down and she collapsed almost smashing her head on the sink. I lurched forward to catch her and luckily managed to grab her before she did herself any damage. I was surprised at how much of a dead weight she had become as she only has a slight frame.’

Colin then tried to put Mrs Fisher in a chair near the sink, but when he realised that she had no stability whatsoever and wouldn’t be able to support herself, he went with his plan B and laid her on the floor.

‘Mrs Fisher was still unconscious so I tapped her face while talking to her until she eventually came around,’ he said. ‘I then placed her in the recovery position and tried to get as much information as possible from her such as her date of birth, when she had last eaten, any medication or allergies she had etc. I then phoned 999.

‘While waiting for the ambulance I kept an eye on Mrs Fisher, constantly talking to her and reassuring her that she was in good hands and that help was on the way. I got a cushion for her collected all her medication and phone and anything else I thought she might need with her in hospital. I then phoned my colleague and asked him if he could guide the ambulance to Mrs Fisher’s door as the estate we deliver to is a bit of a maze.

‘When the ambulance crew arrived, they said they were very impressed with all I had done and even said that they hoped their own postman was as efficient if they ever found themselves in the same situation!’

After Mrs Fisher eventually returned home from hospital, she wrote to Colin to express her thanks, saying: ‘Thanking (Colin) does not seem to be enough. (He is) forever my hero.’ Her doctor said that Colin had undoubtedly saved Mrs Fisher’s life as she had developed a serious blood disorder.

‘I just think it was fate that I was in the right place at the right time,’ said Colin. ‘I would recommend first-aid training to anyone as you never know when it could come in handy. When I was asked by a colleague how I felt about the whole incident, I couldn’t really answer. All I do know is that if I’d had a bucket list, saving someone’s life would definitely be on there.’

Garforth delivery office manager, Alex Mathie, said: ‘Colin is a very conscientious postman who goes that extra mile to support and help his colleagues and customers.’