A MOTORIST whose life was saved by an off duty police officer when he had a cardiac arrest at the wheel is backing the Bolton News’ campaign to make Every School-Leaver a Lifesaver.

James Ingham, of Barnwood Close in Halliwell, had just set off for a trip to Blackpool on December 29 last year with his wife, Kathleen, when he collapsed over the steering wheel in Chorley Old Road. Unconscious, he crashed into a stationary car.

But lucikly, a quick-thinking off-duty police officer came to his rescue and gave him life-saving CPR.

The 73-year-old said: “All I remember is pulling out of the filling station and then I blacked out.

“The off-duty policeman was walking past when he saw the crash.

“All I know is that if he had not been there at that time, I would have been dead.

“It’s quite simple. He was the one who saved my life.”

Once paramedics arrived, Mr Ingham was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital, where he was put under the care of consultant cardiologist Dr Peter Scott, the hospital’s top heart doctor, and made a full recovery.

Mr Ingham has never managed to find the police officer to thank him personally, but says his experience has highlighted the need for more people to learn life-saving skills.

Our Every School-Leaver a Lifesaver campaign, backed by Bolton West MP Julie Hilling, is encouraging all schools in Bolton to teach emergency skills to pupils.

Mr Ingham, a retired sales representative, said: “It’s about delivering CPR in those first three minutes of cardiac arrest that are life-saving.

“I had never even thought about learning CPR before as I didn’t realise how serious a cardiac arrest could be.

“It was a terrible experience for my wife too and she is still having flashbacks to that day.

“I think it would tremendous if everyone learned those skills, especially because CPR is a relatively simple skill.”

Mr Ingham believes the police officer’s name may be Robert Parsons.

Anyone who has any information about the officer can email charlotte.dobson@ theboltonnews.co.uk.