A HERO barman from Redditch sprang into action to save a pub regular who suffered a heart attack.

Andrew Grice, aged 54, has spoken of the shocking moment a man collapsed at The Gate Hangs Well pub at Headless Cross on Friday evening (September 27).

The bartender, aged 54, said: "He bought his beer, and had it on the bar.

"I don't think he even touched it - he just collapsed. His friend managed to catch him".

Mr Grice came quickly to his aid and said the man had no heartbeat and was not breathing.

Pub landlady Karen Callaghan called 999 and was communicating directions to Mr Grice.

Mr Grice, who has first aid training, then put the man on his back and started to perform CPR. He said after ten compressions his heart started again, but then stopped again.

Mr Grice said this happened three times before the ambulance service arrived at the scene. A defibrillator was obtained nearby, which was used by paramedics to revive the patient. 

Mr Grice added: "I have never done that before. I have done first aid training, I used to volunteer with St John's Ambulance.

"When it actually happens it's not the same. It's a bit panicky.

"I couldn't just leave the guy to die. I just had to do what I could.

"The people that I spoke to after, a lot of them said they didn't have training. They wouldn't know what to do. It's a bit frightening really.

"There were quite a few of them that shook my hand".

Mr Grice visited the patient in hospital with Mrs Callaghan earlier this week.

He said that the man, who we are choosing not to name, suffered a heart attack and is in the intensive care unit at Alexandra Hospital. He said that he was able to talk to them during the visit.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 9.10pm on Friday 27th September to a medical emergency at a pub on Evesham Road, Redditch.

"Two ambulances and a critical care paramedic attended the scene".