Congratulations to Tony Linskey on receiving a Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and a Biker Down Tyne and Wear Special Recognition Award for his actions on 1st October 2017. Tony attended a free Biker Down workshop along with his wife Helen on 26th August. During the CPR input Helen informed us about a heart condition she has so emphasis was placed upon that aspect of the workshop. We received a message from Tony stating that on 1st October, only 5 weeks after the course Helen had gone into cardiac arrest at home and Tony had performed CPR on her immediately, he even gave assistance to attending Paramedics. Tony performed CPR for approximately 12 minutes and specialists stated Helen’s survival and subsequent speedy recovery was due to Tony’s rapid action.

Photograph from right to left: Area Manager John Pratt (TWFRS), Station Manager Jeff Boath (TWFRS), Crew Manager Stu Dobson (TWFRS & Biker Down), Tony Linskey, Helen Linskey, Crew Manager William Royal (TWFRS & Biker Down), Gary Shaw (Senior Trauma & Research Paramedic NEAS & Biker Down) and PC Louis Briggs.

“It is an honour and privilege to present these accolades to Tony who is a very deserving hero. Well done Tony” said John Pratt..

Helen works part time as volunteer in YMCA Newton Aycliffe and her heart condition means her valve leaks and her ventricular tubing is back to front to a normal heart. When we got home on October 1st Helen got up to stir tea and when she came back into the living room in Oakfield she fell flat on her face and Tony carried out the CPR.

She spent three weeks in Darlington Hospital recovering and one day in Newcastle Freeman’s Hospital getting a defibrillator fitted, she’s recovered really well with no side effects and is slowly getting back to work.