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A father from Merthyr Tydfil who experienced a cardiac arrest in a shop believes his 12-year-old son might have lost him if not for the swift actions of an off-duty police officer. James Ashley, 52, had just completed a parkrun and was shopping in Cwmbran when he suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed on April 4. Close by, Sgt Adam Hollings of Gwent Police quickly intervened, performing CPR that ultimately saved Ashley’s life.
“I clinically died twice but by the time the paramedics got there, I was sitting up talking,” Ashley recalled. He credited Sgt Hollings’s expertise for preventing a tragedy, saying, “the difference with Adam knowing what he was doing is that my son didn’t lose his dad as a 12-year-old,” and described him as an “absolute hero.” Hollings, who has served on the police force for 21 years, received a Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificate in recognition of his life-saving efforts.
Even though he was off duty at the time, Hollings said his extensive first aid training kicked in automatically. The 40-year-old from Abergavenny quickly instructed someone in the shop to call an ambulance and used a defibrillator to restart Ashley’s heart. Ashley was swiftly transported to University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, where he has now made a full recovery. A week after the incident, Hollings visited Ashley in hospital, and the moment of reunion was deeply meaningful for the officer.
Hollings reflected on the experience, saying the best part was meeting Ashley and his family and knowing his actions helped get Ashley to hospital in time for critical care. “That’s the real reward,” he said, though adding he appreciated the recognition his award brought. Ashley described Hollings not only as a “lifesaver” but also “just a smashing bloke,” praising their positive conversation during the hospital visit. Having had first aid training himself, Ashley urged others to maintain or seek out these essential skills, stressing that anyone can make a difference in emergencies. He commented, “If you think, ‘Oh, you know, I’m sure there’ll be someone there,’ or ‘It’s someone else’s opportunity,’ you absolutely can make a difference to people’s lives.”
Sharon Owen, CEO of Calon Hearts, a Welsh charity that supplies defibrillators and CPR training, commended Hollings for his quick thinking. She emphasized the importance of being trained in CPR and having the confidence to act in critical moments, demonstrating how vital such skills can be in saving lives
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