A Good Samaritan gave emergency first aid to a lifeless baby who had stopped breathing in Hove Park.

Care home worker Graham Buck, 51, was in the park when a hysterical mother appealed for help for her boy who was limp and had gone blue.

First-aid-trained Mr Buck, of Hove, resuscitated the tiny three-month-old boy at the Pavilion Tea House while caring for two learning disabled residents.

He said: “A woman came in holding a lifeless, limp baby saying: ‘My baby’s dead! Does anyone know first aid? Is there a doctor in here?’ His face was blue and he wasn’t moving at all.

“The dad was holding the baby upside down but that wasn’t working so I snatched the baby, laid him down, and tried to get a finger in his mouth, but he was so small it was practically impossible.

“I tilted his head back and started resuscitating his mouth to nose and mixed it up with ten compressions.”

This went on for several minutes before another woman offered to help with the resuscitation. They took it in turns for another minute before boy showed signs of life.

Mr Buck said: “After another minute the baby coughed and then started crying and colour came back to its face.

“I put him into the recovery position and a paramedic arrived. The mother was beside herself with hysteria.”

An ambulance took the baby to A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and it is understood the boy was discharged later that day.

A spokesman for the ambulance service thanked everyone involved for their “quick thinking and action”.

Mr Buck said: “When I got back to work someone said ‘Graham just saved a baby’s life’. They didn’t believe it at first but they were saying ‘you were a real hero’.

“It didn’t really sink in – I just had to carry on with my day at work.

“I’m just grateful the baby is OK. Resuscitation can bruise babies’ lungs and break their ribs so you have to be very careful.

“My experience has already had an effect and two of my friends have just been on a first aid course specifically aimed at parents of infants.”

For more information go to www.tobabyandbeyond.com.