QUICK-THINKING construction workers who saved the life of a colleague at a Little Hulton building site have been awarded a top honour.

Health and safety manager Neil Taylor and site manager Gavin Tetley jumped into action when Peter Calderbank collapsed with a heart attack as they worked on Amblecote, a City West Housing Trust development being built by Bardsley Construction.

The Royal Humane Society has now recognised the vital part they played in keeping site co-ordinator Mr Calderbank alive until paramedics could arrive by announcing they are awarding them Resuscitation Certificates.

Dick Wilkinson, secretary of the Royal Humane Society, said: “Mr Calderbank’s consultant has said that his survival was entirely due to the prompt cardiac pulmonary resuscitation he received. Put simply, Mr Taylor and Mr Tetley were the right people in the right place at the right time.

“They proved the difference between life and death with their fast actions and considerable expertise. They richly deserve these awards.”

When Mr Calderbank, who lives in Chorley, collapsed, both his breathing and his pulse stopped.

A colleague who was with him raised the alarm over the site radio, putting Mr Calderbank into the recovery position.

Both Mr Taylor, who lives in Bury and Mr Tetley, who is from Rochdale, rushed to the scene. Mr Tetley cleared blood from the worker’s airway before starting mouth to mouth resuscitation and external heart massage and then Mr Taylor took over the heart massage.

When paramedics arrived they helped carry the stretcher from the first floor and across the muddy construction site.

The two men were recommended for the award by Mr Calderbank’s wife Ruth, but no date has yet been set for them to be presented with their certificates.

Their bosses have already recognised their achievement, presenting them with bottles of champagne.

Bardsley managing director Paul Strutt said: “We are immensely proud of Gavin, Neil and the team. Their immediate response and positive actions undoubtedly saved Peter’s life. We have always prided ourselves on maintaining an exemplary standard of health and safety across the company, which includes first aid training.

“Thankfully Peter is recovering well at home and is due to return to his duties as site coordinator soon.”