A former retained firefighter has had first hand experience of how staff at his former station are trained to help paramedics save lives.

Jeremy Crockford pictured with firefighters Greg Hillen, left, and Terry Williams who treated him

Jeremy Crockford, 69, said retained firefighters in Thame saved his life after he was struck down by a heart attack.

The 69-year-old was the first patient cared for by the fire and rescue crew since they launched the co-responder scheme with Oxfordshire Ambulance Service four weeks ago.

Staff at Thame, Chipping Norton and Bampton stations have been trained to resuscitate heart attack victims, and can now be called out to 999 calls in their areas to look after patients before paramedics arrive.

So far, they have dealt with about 25 calls.

Mr Crockford, of Lee Court, Thame, collapsed on his friend's doorstep on Sunday, March 6.

Following a 999 call, the ambulance service alerted Thame fire and rescue crew, who arrived in an engine.

Firefighters Greg Hillen and Terry Williams, accompanied by their colleagues Kirsten Purnell and Steve Lockwood, administered oxygen and kept him alive until an ambulance team took over a few minutes later.

Mr Crockford's condition was so bad that he spent a fortnight in hospital following major cardiac surgery.

He said: "The attack came on very suddenly. It was very severe and quick. I passed out and don't remember much, but what amazed me when I came to was that the first thing I saw was a firefighter.

"They were brilliant, and the co-responder idea is marvellous. They saved my life and kept me going until the ambulance got there."

Mr Crockford was a retained firefighter for seven years during the 1950s and 60s.

Because he was an inch too short to become a full-time crew member, he went on to become a paramedic for 30 years.

He said: "I never thought I'd see firefighters do this, but they're doing a wonderful job. It's ironic really that they came to help me."

Thame Fire Station officer Andy Ford said Mr Crockford was one of about 10 patients who had been helped by his crew.

He said: "It was quite rewarding to know that the first person we were able to help was an ex-firefighter.

"So far, we've had a fantastic response from the public, and the feedback we've had from the ambulance service is that it's going very well."

Evidence shows that a heart attack victim's chance of survival reduces during every minute they wait without medical care.

The co-responder scheme means patients can be helped within minutes of their attack, because fire crews can get to them quickly and give treatment until an ambulance arrives.

Just like community responders, who are volunteers in villages across the county, the retained firefighters are trained to use defibrillators, which jump start a person's heart when it stops.

Dick Tracey, Oxfordshire Ambulance Trust paramedic and community defibrillation officer, said: "Mr Crockford's case is a demonstration of community responding at its best. The fire crew was on the scene very quickly, the ambulance was mobilised straight away, and it was a fine example of team work.

"Both co-responder and community responder schemes are working well and doing an excellent job."

Mr Tracey is still searching for volunteers to become community responders across Oxfordshire, and anyone who would like to help can call him on 01865 740100.