A group of colleagues from Edinburgh Napier’s security team who helped save the life of a student have had their actions recognised by Police Scotland.
The team – including colleagues Ian Hamilton and David Aitken – have received a Bravery and Meritorious Service Award from Police Scotland at a ceremony at the Scottish Police College in Tulliallan.
The security team have been praised for their quick actions by the force after they received a call in 2016 while on patrol from a concerned student who was worried about the welfare of his fellow student and flatmate.
On arriving at the Edinburgh Napier student accommodation, a student was found unresponsive in his en-suite bathroom. The immediate priority was to get blood and oxygen circulating again in the student’s body and after taking direction from the emergency services, the team started to apply CPR.
Both Ian, David and a colleague took turns to administer a mammoth 300 compressions each, while other staff members supported the student’s flatmates alongside helping guide the ambulance to the accommodation block. They worked on the student for approximately 30 minutes.
On the ambulance’s arrival, the close-knit team passed the situation over to the paramedics as the student was taken to the Royal Infirmary. He later made a full recovery.
Ian Hamilton said: “I’m extremely fortunate to work with excellent and competent staff. Our priority is to look after the welfare of our students and thankfully that night, our training and experience all came together to help save a young man’s life.
“The CPR was very labour intensive. 300 compressions is very tiring. The adrenaline really was pumping at this stage. When paramedics and police arrived, it was still proving difficult to stabilise the student but thankfully – as a team – we managed.
“We’re very grateful that our actions as a team have been recognised. It is always nice to be thanked. Certain individuals step forward in times of need – we were simply doing our job and we were thrilled to hear the student had made a full recovery.”
The Edinburgh Napier security team was among 64 police officers, two special constables, one member of police staff and 14 members of the public honoured at the ceremony.
The Chief Constable presented the awards, which was sponsored by Police Mutual and attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice Humza Yousaf and SPA chair Susan Deacon.
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: “The Police Scotland Bravery Awards provide us with an opportunity to pause, reflect and admire outstanding acts of bravery displayed by members of the public, police officers and staff who put the protection of others before their own safety.
“These selfless acts of care, courage and professionalism include many instances where immense courage was shown in helping people at their time of greatest need, actions that were often life changing for all involved.
“I am privileged to lead an organisation that serves the public with officers and staff who go above and beyond the call of duty every day, to ensure the safety and protection of others.”