A PAIR of quick-thinking council workers who saved a police officer’s life are our first nominees for Employee of the Year.

Adam Samuel and Ian Power saw John Fivash, a firearms officer for Sussex Police, fall in Worthing’s Pavilion Road while they were carrying out their street-cleaning duties in December.

They spotted him with his head jammed against a steel gate as members of the public walked by without stopping.

But the council workers stepped in.

They took Mr Fivash’s pulse and asked a nearby resident to call an ambulance.

They stayed with him and Mr Samuel used his first aid training to manage the policeman’s condition.

For their efforts they were invited to a special event in the Worthing Mayor’s Parlour and formally thanked.

Mr Power downplayed their heroics and said they were just in the “right place at the right time” to help out.

This Argus Community Stars Award looks to celebrate those who have either gone above and beyond in their day to day jobs or who have done something truly exceptional.

Last year’s winner was Diana Cracknell, a healthcare assistant who always went that extra mile for her patients at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Ms Cracknell used her own money to buy things to make people feel good and treated her patients as her mother was treated.

Another nominee is a true Argus stalwart, Keith Whisper, who started working at this newspaper more than half a century ago.

The final nominee was Robin Humphries who stepped in at the last minute to organise hundreds of stewards for the Tour of Britain when it came to Sussex.

The Brighton and Hove City Council worker took on the job after a neighbouring authority failed to do the work.

Mr Humphries is the local authority's civil contingencies manager and is responsible for bringing together emergency planning, business continuity and safety advice for all public events in Brighton and Hove.