AN Amesbury businessman who helped save the life of a woman who suffered a cardiac arrest while out shopping has been recognised with a special award.

Ian Locke, who is the managing director of Spire Glass at The Beacon Centre, was presented with the Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificate on Friday.

Gerry Hibberd suffered a pulmonary embolism and a cardiac arrest while she was out in Amesbury on October 12 last year.

She stopped her car at Spire Glass after suffering shortness of breath.

Luckily for her trained first aider Ian, who knew Gerry realised something was wrong and came to her aid.

He started CPR before community first responders and paramedics arrived on scene.

Gerry, who had been diagnosed with the inherited disease hypertrophic obstructive cardio myopathy 30 years ago, was flown to Southampton General Hospital by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

She spent five days on life support and was later fitted with an implanted cardioverter defibrillator to prevent future episodes.

On receiving the award, Ian said: "I'm honoured. I didn't expect anything like that at all. It is not an everyday occasion that you help to save someone's life. When you do it it is surreal."

He added: "It is a pat on the back for the company. Everyone should do first aid. It should be taught at school as elementary skills."

"You may never use use and hope you don't."

Gerry, who remembers nothing from that eventful day, said: "It seems so insignificant but thank you never seems enough.

"It is something I will never forget and something he will never forget."

She added: "It is true gratitude. Most people don't survive cardiac arrests outside hospital. It was an exceptional thing that happened."

He was nominated for the award by Gerry's husband Norman who said: "Ian ensures him and all his staff are trained. You hope you never have to use it."