AN artist has described the dramatic moment he saved the life of a man who had stopped breathing – using skills he’d learnt as a Scout.

Well known Leigh artist Paul Karslake didn’t hesitate to step in when he sawaman fall off his bike.

First aid skills he’d learnt as a child in the Scouts came flooding back and he performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, commonly known as CPR on the lifeless man.

The 52-year-old airbrush artist said he was shocked to discover he still remembered the first aid skills he had learned so long ago and he instinctively put them into action, saving the stranger’s life.

The incident happened outside Westcliff Preschool in Westcliff United Reformed Church.

Staff there called for an ambulance while Mr Karslake delivered vital first aid to 68-year-old Phil Collins.

Mr Karslake, of Carlton Drive, Leigh, said: “I was driving down the road and I saw some guy fall off his bike outside a nursery school. I had a bad vibe so I stopped the car and ran over to help.

“When I got to him he wasn’t breathing and his heart wasn’t working. He was dead. I used my life-saving skills and if I hadn’t he’d be dead now.”

Mr Karslake, the brother of Jo Wood, the exwife of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, added: “I did CPR on the chest for 11 minutes. When he didn’t come round I was panicking butIdidn’t give up. It was exhausting.Iput him in the recovery position and I was just about to do mouth to mouth again and he came round.

“The whole thing took just over ten minutes but it felt like ten hours.”

The incident happened at the crossing by Kings Road and Leigh Road, in Leigh. A doctor confirmed the man had collapsed due to exertion in the cold weather.

Mr Collins, of Poors Lane, Hadleigh discovered who had saved his life from nursery staff.

He said: “I’m just glad he was there.Iflaked out. When I came round the first thing I saw was the doctor,Ididn’t find out until yesterday it was Paul who had saved my life.

“I go cycling regularly and have never had anything like this before.Ihave been cycling for years, it is a mystery what happened. I’m fine now. I stayed in hospital for 24 hours and they did checks but couldn’t find anything at all.

“I’m very thankful to him.”

Mr Karslake said he had got the chance to speak to Mr Collins since the incident. He said: “The lady who runs the toddler school took my name and number and he went and collected them.

“He called me and just said I don’t know what to say. It was very emotional. I cried my eyes out after.”

Mr Karslake urged others to learn first aid skills. He added: “I learnt how to do CPR when I was in the Scouts. I hadn’t used it since and I didn’t realise I had remembered it.”