A TAUNTON PCSO who revived a severely injured man in the street has received a top national award.

PCSO Joe Norris was on patrol in Minehead when he assisted an ambulance treating a man showing "no signs of life".

He helped paramedics perform CPR for more than 20 minutes, eventually managing to get a pulse.

Te man was treated in hospital, although he sadly later died.

PCSO Norris has been awarded a Royal Humane Society resuscitation certificate for his actions in May last year.

The presentation was made by Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Andy Marsh during a virtual ceremony.

PCSO Norris said: "I was on patrol in Minehead during lockdown in May when I came across an ambulance crew who had just arrived on scene to a male with severe facial injuries and no signs of life.

"I offered my help and the ambulance crew asked me to assist with CPR while they treated his other injuries.

"I did this for over 20 minutes and by the time a second ambulance crew arrived we had managed to get a pulse."

His actions contributed to the man being quickly stabilised, enabling the ambulance crew to treat the other significant facial injuries thereby allowing for him to be quickly taken to hospital and receive further medical treatment.

PCSO Norris added: "From dealing with neighbourhood disputes to major incidents, we are at our best when we work together.

"During the pandemic, services like NHS, fire, and councils have worked closer than ever before.

"Working shoulder to shoulder in a crisis, we feel like brothers and sisters and we even wave to each other when we’re out and about in the community.

"I believe that anyone who was in my position that day would have done the same. It is part of what we do.

"The gentleman we helped sadly died two days later in hospital but because we worked together to stabilise him, his family got that time to say goodbye and they passed on their gratitude to us.

"It is humbling to be recognised and every day I feel grateful to be working as a frontline officer doing my best to make a difference for the community."