An off-duty police sergeant from Birmingham and a paramedic saved a 67-year-old man's life after he collapsed at a gym in Brierley Hill. Sergeant Mitchell Siviter, part of West Midlands Police, was on a rest day at PureGym on Level Street when he noticed Bob Cox lying motionless on the floor a few treadmills away.
Rapid Response and CPR
Realising Mr Cox was not breathing, Sergeant Siviter immediately began CPR and instructed other gym members to call 999 during the medical emergency on July 7. He also asked the gym manager to bring a defibrillator, guiding him through opening the machine and cutting Mr Cox's top to place the pads on his chest. An off-duty paramedic, also present at the gym, joined the effort and placed the defib pads correctly.
Coordinated Effort Saves Life
Both emergency workers alternated performing CPR and using the defibrillator until paramedics arrived. The paramedics took over CPR and transported Mr Cox to hospital for further treatment. Mr Cox survived and is now recovering at home. According to a community response manager, every minute that passes after a cardiac arrest reduces a person's chance of survival by around ten percent.
Sergeant Siviter said: 'As a police officer you’re never off-duty — the training kicks in and you do everything you can to help. I’m really pleased that, thanks to my efforts and the others who helped, Bob survived. It was a normal morning for me, I was on rest days and at the gym and never expected to be helping save someone’s life. But just like a normal shift at work, you never know what’s going to happen or what calls are going to come in and, thanks to my training, I knew what to do.' He added: 'When you sign up to become a PC, it’s to be on duty 24/7 whether you’re in uniform or not, if you see someone who needs support or there’s an emergency you always step up to offer support in any way you can.'
Gratitude from Survivor
Bob Cox expressed his gratitude, stating: 'I owe my life to Mitch and look forward to meeting him soon so I can say thank you in person.' Community Response Manager Tim Cronin praised the swift actions: 'It’s fantastic to hear the swift actions of two off-duty emergency services workers helped give this patient the best possible chance of survival and led to such a positive outcome.'
Sergeant Siviter, who serves as a neighbourhood sergeant for West Midlands Police, looks forward to meeting Mr Cox and continues to emphasise the importance of being ready to help at any time. The incident highlights the critical role of immediate CPR and defibrillator use in cardiac arrest emergencies.
