SAVING a man’s life at a supermarket has earned a Redditch resident double recognition.
Maggie Underwood has received awards from both the British Heart Foundation and Herefordshire Heartstart for using the emergency skills she had learned on a Heartstart course.
As reported in the Standard earlier this year, Maggie came to the rescue of a man who collapsed in front of horrified shoppers and his young daughter in Morrisons.
She was able to get him breathing again before paramedics arrived to take him to hospital.
Months before, Maggie had taken part in the first aid course as part of her charity work with Redditch Heart Safe, which she started with partner Rob after their daughter Charlotte passed away due to sudden arrhythmic death syndrome. The family also lost son Craig, who passed away just before Christmas last year after suffering a cardiac arrest.
“I wasn’t expecting anything so it was a real honour to go and receive them. I also got a couple of letters thanking me for doing what I did.” Maggie said.
“It just promotes that the course can help save people’s lives. It was a lovely gesture and makes me feel very proud of what I did.”
Loraine Coleman, co-ordinator and project manager from Herefordshire Heartstart, put Maggie forward for a special achievement award from the BHF as well as making a recommendation to the trustees of her organisation they also recognise her.
Loraine and Dr John Ballance, medical director and chairman of Heartstart, met Maggie on Monday (October 13) to present her with the two certificates.
Loraine said: “Margaret was very brave and did absolutely everything right. She deserves a huge pat on the back for saving this man.”