Brighton bin crews save woman who collapsed on pavement in Whitehawk

Billy Lee was driving his lorry with colleagues Phil Buss and Ryan Bones when he spotted the person having a seizure in Findon Road, Whitehawk.

Quick-thinking Billy immediately pulled over and the three men jumped out of the cab to help.

Billy said: “We ran to her and I put her in the recovery position and felt her pulse. I could see she was suffering from a seizure so I carried out CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) help resuscitate her.

“Part of CPR is making sure someone is breathing properly, so I made sure her airways were clear with her head back and my colleagues Phil and Ryan contacted the ambulance service who arrived in three or four minutes.

“The woman said thank you as we helped her into the ambulance. We just wanted to help.”

Billy Lee, left, and Ryan Bones with a bin lorry at Hollingdean Depot (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)

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Billy learned how to carry out CPR after attending a council-run first aid training course.

And now he wants all of Brighton and Hove’s Cityclean crews to have the same training.

CPR is an emergency procedure and in training you are taught how to perform chest compressions and give rescue breaths.

St John Ambulance advice is to ask a bystander to call 999 or 112 while you perform chest compressions.

After 30 chest compressions, you are told to give two rescue breaths and await the arrival of an ambulance.

Billy added: “I think it would be good for all drivers and crews to have training as we’re on the road and streets all day and can help in these situations.”

Rachael Chasseaud, the council's assistant director of city environment, said: “What Billy, Phil and Ryan did was amazing and really helped the woman until the ambulance arrived.

“I and everyone at Cityclean plus the council’s leadership and senior managers are very proud of them.

“It shows how important our first aid training is and we’ll now be looking into more training for other drivers and crews and make sure Billy is involved.”