Dad acted quick to help heart-attack swimmer; Michael pulled unconscious man to edge of pool

A MAN who dragged a swimmer to safety when he suffered heart failure in a pool is the latest Post/First Gold Star winner.

Quick-thinking Michael Huke pulled the unconscious man to the edge of Easton leisure centre's pool then helped lifeguards save the man's life. Deserved winner Mr Huke, a father-of-two said: "That's amazing. Absolutely fantastic.

"I just did what anyone would do in that situation. I just hope the guy is OK."

Mr Huke, 43, was on his twice weekly swim on July 30 when he swam past another regular swimmer, aged in his thirties, and noticed he was face down under the water.

The husband of Fiona and dad to George, 11, and Ella, 13, explained: "I soon thought 'that doesn't look right - he's not moving'.

"He was staying face down under the water so I dragged him to the edge of the pool and shouted for the lifeguards. "He still had his black goggles on so I couldn't see his eyes, but it looked like he was fitting or something.

"The guards came over and helped me lift him out of the pool and put him in the recovery position.

"They pressed their emergency button and started giving him CPR, then a woman came with the defibrillator. "I didn't know the man but I'd seen him in the pool many times before and he was a proficient swimmer."

The stricken swimmer had suffered a heart attack. He started breathing again once paramedics had arrived and continued resuscitation and de-fibrillation, and after 40 minutes of rescue attempts by the pool-side he was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary. However, he suffered another heart attack in the ambulance before being taken to intensive care at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Bank worker Mr Huke keeps himself fit by running, cycling and swimming 60 lengths twice a week.

In April, he ran the London Marathon and raised money for the Raft (Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust) charity.

His daughter Ella suffered serious burns when she was a toddler and underwent a skin graft at Frenchay Hospital as part of her treatment.

The awards are sponsored by bus company First.

Jenny MacLeod, general manager for First in Bristol, said: "Michael is a deserving Gold Star winner. It is impossible to predict how each of us would react if we were faced with such a life and death situation, but clearly his actions in pulling the unconscious man to the side the pool and alerting the lifeguards to the situation helped save precious minutes, meaning that the man was treated as quickly as possible. His quick thinking is deserving of this recognition and he should be very proud of what he did. Well done Michael."

Praising Mr Huke, Post editor Mike Norton said: "There is no doubt that Mr Huke's quick actions saved this man's life. He thoroughly deserves his Gold Star award."

Comment: Page 10

" ............................................................... I just did what anyone would do in that situation. I just hope the guy is OK Michael Huke ............................................................................