A Largs super volunteer who plays a key role in the town’s first responders and resilience team is up for a top award.

Thom Williamson has been nominated in the ‘Behind the Scenes’ category at the NHS Ayrshire Achieves Awards, which celebrates the contribution of health workers and volunteers.

The Largs man has been nominated for his role as co-ordinator of the Largs First Responder Unit, which attends callouts at the request of the ambulance service and also provides support for local events.

Thom admitted he is delighted to be nominated, but insisted the plaudits should go to the whole first responders team.

He said: “It’s fantastic to be nominated and nice to be recognised, but I don’t do these things for that, I do it because it needs to be done.

“It’s really an award for the whole team, as people clearly recognise all the hard work they put in every week.

“The responders are all volunteers, and everyone does it for the good of the town and the people who live here.

“As co-ordinator I’m the one that people see most but it’s down to my fellow responders too and is recognition for all of us.”

Thom has been nominated in the ‘Behind the Scenes’ category with vaccination programme manager Jennifer Reid and consultant Dr Krishna Prasad, as well as Linda Muir and the home life team.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday, June 1 at University Hospital, Ayr.

Thom revealed one of the first responder activities he is most proud of is looking after more than 20 lifesaving defibrillators across the north coast.

He explained: “Most towns have only got one or two defibrillators at most but from Wemyss Bay to Fairlie we have over 20, including two in police cars.

“They all get used regularly and every time one is active we then have to go and clean it and put new pads on before it enters circulation again.

“They are brilliant devices as they allow bystanders to help people that have collapsed and it could save a life.

“Making them widely available is so important alongside giving training in how to use them, so they really are one of my proudest achievements.”

Thom says the first responders are looking forward to a busy summer, including assisting the Viking Festival in September.

He added: “We are always busy with training, and teaching people CPR in conjunction with local charities.

“If we can show as many people as we can how to help someone in need, then it can hopefully save lives.

“We are looking forward to helping with the Viking Festival, and we will always be available for callouts too.

“If you don’t get a callout then it’s a good day, but we always want to make sure we’re ready when we do.”

Find the Largs First Responder Unit page on Facebook for more information.