Batsman's life saved by keeper (From The Argus)

Batsman's life saved by keeper

11:07am Saturday 30th June 2012 in News By Ben James

A VETERAN wicketkeeper has been hailed as a hero after bringing an opposition batsman back to life.

Undisputed man of the match Micky Tindall, 61, dropped his gloves and sprang into action when he saw that star batsman Jim Smallbone was having a heart attack.

The volunteer community first-aider was only in the team because regular keeper Mick Marsh had been injured by a stray cricket ball the previous week.

Mr Tindall said: “I saw him go down and my training just kicked in.”

Jim took to the crease as Hampshire Seniors lined up against Sussex Seniors at Middleton Cricket Ground on Thursday.

The 64-year-old, who has played for the England Seniors team, had taken guard for the start of a new over when he began to sway.

Mr Tindall, from Shermanbury, near Horsham, said: “There is a look in a man’s eyes when there is something seriously wrong and I saw that straight away.

“I got him in the recovery position but he didn’t have a pulse, so I started to perform CPR.”

Mr Tindall, a retired British Airways instructor, volunteers as a Community First Responder.

For the role he is not only first-aid trained, but also able to administer drugs and use a defibrillator.

He added: “I normally have my kit with me but I had forgotten it, so I just had my brain and my hands.”

Teammates called for an ambulance while Micky continued to work on his opponent.

With the air ambulance approaching, the former aviation instructor swapped roles and signalled in the chopper before running back to try and get Jim’s pulse going.

He said: “I’m no hero. I just did what any other Community First Responder would have done.”

Sussex Seniors team manager Hugh Milner, 70, said: “It was incredible to see him in action but also so lucky that he was actually at the ground.

“If it wasn’t for our normal wicketkeeper getting hit by a ball, it might have been a different story.”

Mr Smallbone was taken by ambulance to hospital where he had surgery yesterday to treat four blocked arteries.

Mr Tindall added: “We lost his pulse a few times so I’m just glad he looks like he’s going to pull through.

“After the ambulance had gone, they got me a nice cold beer – I was absolutely shattered.

“On a serious note I would urge people to think about becoming a Community First Responder. It really can be life changing.”

For more details visit www.|scas-responders.info/