WHEN referee Doug Skelton blew his whistle to signal the start of a rugby match in Selby last April little did he think that 80 minutes later he’d be in a hospital bed rather than the shower room.

Doug was lucky because off-duty special policeman Neil Williams and physiotherapist Hayley Brady were watching the game and after seeing him collapse they rushed on the pitch to administer first aid which almost certainly saved his life.

Quite rightly Neil and Hayley’s efforts have now been recognised by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service in the form of commendations at a re-run of the game at which Doug was guest of honour. We understand he is now recovering well but this could have been a very different story. It just goes to show the importance of first aid training, because even basic medical skills can make all the difference.