In dramatic circumstances, the first aid team at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships had to come to the rescue of a 74 year old man who had a heart attack at Inverclyde Sports Centre last Tuesday.

The regular gym goer was working out at the Inverclyde Sports Centre, where the international fencing competition was taking place, when he suffered cardiac arrest.

However, thanks to the quick action of the gym staff, and the expertise and equipment brought by freelance paramedics Angie Page and Alan Milne, who are covering the event, they were able to save his life.

Angie Page, 37, who lives in Edinburgh, said: “I’ve covered quite a few sporting events but this is my first fencing competition. I was expecting some cuts and maybe a twisted ankle and so it was quite unexpected when we heard someone was receiving CPR. We grabbed our equipment and raced to the scene where the gym staff were doing an excellent job. They carried on until we got set up and were able to take over, shocking his heart back into a regular rhythm.

“It’s not often you are able to bring back someone who is in cardiac arrest if they are not already in hospital. To be on hand in the right place at the right time and have played a part in saving someone’s life feels incredible. I just hoped that the rest of the competition was less eventful, and any excitement is because of the action on the fencing pistes, not off them.” Run by Scottish Fencing on behalf of the Commonwealth Fencing Federation, the event featuring over 300 fencers from 18 different countries, was being hosted at the sportscotland Inverclyde National Centre in Largs.

Australian Helen Smith, President of the International Fencing Federation, praised the quick actions of the paramedics during her closing speech at the championships on Saturday evening.

She said: “I’d like to praise the first aid team, and in particular Angie Page, who has not only provided fantastic services to all of fencers, and some officials and those of us who fell ill, but saved the life of a non-fencer who was not involved in this event, but happened to be on site and that is an amazing thing.”