Local CPR Training Leads to Life-Saving Action in Leigh-on-sea

March 5, 2026

A woman from Chalkwell (Southend-On-Sea) has helped save a life just days after attending a CPR and AED training session delivered by BASICS Essex, highlighting the real and immediate impact of the charity’s voluntary workshop.

Nearly half of UK adults (43 %) have never learned CPR, according to British Heart Foundation research. This equates to an estimated 23 million people without basic CPR training.

BASICS Essex recently delivered a CPR and AED workshop for members of the Legra Ladies Women’s Institute, based in Leigh-on-sea, as part of its Sponsor A Clinician scheme — an initiative that allows organisations to support the charity’s volunteer emergency clinicians while receiving life-saving CPR and AED and other benefits in return.

Just a few days after the session, one of the attendees was travelling through Southend when a member of the public collapsed at the Royal Shopping Centre.

Thanks to the confidence and skills gained during the training, she was able to step in and assist immediately — supported by a nurse and other responders on scene — helping to save the individual’s life until emergency services arrived.

The incident powerfully demonstrates how supporting BASICS Essex doesn’t just fund emergency medical response across the county — it directly equips everyday people with the skills to save lives.

A spokesperson from the Legra Ladies WI said:

“A massive thank you to John and BASICS Essex for providing the CPR training for our group. The events I experienced a couple of days later are a real testament to the importance that everyone should receive CPR training — it can really make a difference when you are least expecting it to.”

John Horton, Volunteer Clinician for BASICS Essex, added:

“The Sponsor A Clinician scheme allows organisations to see first-hand the impact of their support. CPR is something anyone can do, and early intervention can be lifesaving. Hearing that this training was used in a real emergency just days later shows exactly why this work matters.”

What to Do If Someone Collapses (UK Guidance)

BASICS Essex encourages everyone to learn basic life-saving skills. If someone collapses and becomes unresponsive in the UK:

Check for danger and responsiveness

Make sure it is safe to approach. Gently shake their shoulders and ask loudly, “Are you okay?”

Call 999 immediately

If they are unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 999 (or ask someone nearby to call) and put the phone on loudspeaker. The call handler will guide you. Start chest compressions

Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest — around 100–120 compressions per minute. Don’t worry about getting it perfect; doing something is far better than doing nothing.

Use an AED if available

If there is a public defibrillator nearby, switch it on and follow the spoken instructions. AEDs are safe to use and will only deliver a shock if needed. Continue until help arrives

Keep going until the person shows signs of life or emergency services take over.

CPR Training Through the Sponsor A Clinician Scheme

BASICS Essex delivers CPR and AED workshops exclusively to organisations taking part in its Sponsor A Clinician scheme. These sessions are practical, accessible and designed to give people the confidence to act in a real emergency.

By sponsoring a clinician, organisations:

Directly support life-saving pre-hospital emergency care across Essex

Receive CPR and AED training for their team or members

Help spread vital emergency response skills into local communities

To learn more about the Sponsor A Clinician scheme, visit: https://www.basicsessex.org.uk/sponsor-a-clinician