A BELLSMYRE teenager has has been hailed a hero after helping to save the life of neighbour who collapsed in her home.

Daniel McLaughlin rushed to the house in Murroch Avenue on Saturday night after hearing screams for help from the woman’s daughter.

The 19-year-old was shocked to find the woman lying on the floor and apparently not breathing.

Quick-thinking Daniel called the ambulance, and paramedics told him to immediately start emergency CPR.

Fortunately, Daniel had undertaken Heartstart training – a programme which teaches people what to do in life-threatening emergencies – and knew he had to act quickly.

Paramedics gave him support and encouragement over the phone while the emergency crews were on their way.

A short time later, a family friend, who had been summoned to help, arrived and joined in the frantic bid to bring the woman back to life.

Then, a few minutes later, a police officer arrived and the three got the woman breathing again and she was rushed to hospital when the ambulance arrived.

This week, Daniel told the Reporter: “It was a scary ordeal but the CPR worked – and it was great to bring her back to life.”

Daniel said the drama began at 8pm on Saturday when he was arriving home to get ready for work.

“I heard the woman’s daughter screaming that she couldn’t wake her mother,” he said. “I rushed into the house and saw that she was lying on the floor and appeared to be dead as she was not breathing.

“I immediately called the ambulance and the paramedics told me to start CPR as a matter of urgency.

“Fortunately, I am Heartstart trained and that was a great help, but my mind went a blank for a second until the paramedic on the phone reminded me what to do.

“Then she began breathing in a very laboured way. My main focus was to bring her back – that’s all I could think about. I told the woman’s daughter to get help and she contacted a family friend who arrived a short time later.

“We took turns about at CPR as it was very tiring, and a police officer arrived and he took over. Her breathing was very slight and laboured.”

“When the ambulance arrived she had recovered slightly and she was taken to hospital in Paisley.

“My thoughts at the time were to get her breathing again, but I got a bit emotional afterwards when it sunk in what had happened.

“Police told me if it hadn’t been for my quick actions she would have died.”

Daniel’s actions have been praised by Sheenah Nelson who trained the teen in Heartstart techniques at a course she organised at Bellsmyre Community Centre.

She told the Reporter: “That is marvellous news. Daniel has shown himself to be a true hero, having the confidence to take control of the situation when he was first on the scene.

“Heartstart really is the gift of life and this brings the total of people saved in the area through the programme to nine in the past year and a half.”

Sheenah, who is the Heartstart co-ordinator for Helensburgh Garelochside Rotary which delivers training throughout West Dunbartonshire, said: “I taught Daniel and I am chuffed to bits. He obviously had the confidence to act quickly. Very well done to him.”

Community-minded Daniel is one of the volunteer company directors of Y Sort It, which provides information and support for young carers aged 12-18 in West Dunbartonshire.

Manager Gillian Kirkwood: “This is typical of Daniel. He is very passionate about the community and that’s why he got involved in Y Sort It. He is very caring about people, especially if they are vulnerable.”

A police spokesman said: “Police responded to a report of a 44-year-old woman having gone in to cardiac arrest at approximately 8pm on December 10. Officers arrived at the property in Murroch Avenue and found the woman unconscious and not breathing.

“Police quickly carried out CPR and restored the woman’s breathing rate before an ambulance crew arrived. She was transported to hospital.”