Business owners are being urged to ensure their teams are trained in first aid after a bodyshop boss saved the life of one of his colleagues.

Fix Auto Wrexham’s bodyshop director Richard Edwards and customer service advisor LLinos Evans were credited with saving the life of driver Roy Millington after he suffered a heart attack while driving to work.

Edwards believes had they not attended a first aid refresher course shortly before the incident, they may not have been able to save Millington.

“Fortunately LLinos and I had undergone our first aid refresher training several weeks before Roy’s incident. We went into autopilot, our training kicked in and thankfully Roy has recovered to tell the tale,” said Edwards.

His actions were acknowledged when he was named as one of BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine’s Guardian Angels, after 57-year-old Millington wrote into the radio show as a way to say thank you for saving his life.    

Millington called saying he wasn’t feeling too well and he had severe pains to his chest, prompting Evans to call an ambulance. When he arrived at work he collapsed while trying to get out of his truck.

With the ambulance delayed, Edwards and Evans decided to drive Millington to the hospital themselves.

“We honestly just thought we’d helped our friend, but the doctors said our actions had saved Roy’s life. It was only after the incident we realised just how severe the situation was,” said Edwards.

Roy had suffered a heart attack and has since had three stents fitted to his chest. He has now returned to light duties three days a week.

Millington said: “I can’t thank Richard and LLinos enough. If it were not for their actions, I have been told I wouldn’t be here today and for that I am eternally grateful.  Richard has played down his actions, saying anyone would have done the same but in reality it’s his first aid training that really helped me.”

Picture caption: Fix Auto Wrexham’s driver Roy Millington (centre) with Bodyshop director Richard Edwards (right) and customer services advisor LLinos Evans (left).