Quick-thinking sports centre staff from Cottingley who saved the life of a collapsed gym member are to be honoured at the annual National Lifesaver Defibrillator Awards hosted by the national cardiac charity SADS UK.

While working at the Nuffield Health and Fitness Centre, Helen Walker and her colleague Kerrie Elrick were called to help Terry Moorhouse who was taken unwell while in the jacuzzi. Mr Moorhouse had collapsed, with an apparent cardiac arrest and staff members were very quickly on the scene, towelling him dry and calling the emergency services. CPR was started immediately with Helen Walker and Kerrie Elrick alternating and the centre’s defibrillator was brought to the scene to give a therapeutic shock.

Mr Moorhouse’s wife Carol said: “The paramedics arrived very quickly in around nine minutes but, in the meantime, Helen and Kerrie had applied their training and were using the defibrillator.

“There’s no doubt that the Centre’s quick action getting him out of the water and starting emergency action saved his life. We’ve since been to thank Helen, Kerry and the team to present them with flowers, which seemed very little compared to what they had done, but we just wanted to thank them.

“I put Helen and Kerrie forward to receive a national award from SADS UK, as I feel they deserve recognition for saving my husband’s life.

Anne Jolly, founder of SADS UK said: “We are delighted to be honouring Helen and Kerrie for their quick action when it was needed, taking charge of an emergency situation and saving Terry’s life.”

The award ceremony takes place in London on October 19.