WORCESTERSHIRE winners of the West Midlands Air Ambulance Excellence in the Community Awards have been announced.

The nominees were praised for their stalwart work to help those in trouble in the community and for their efforts in juggling work with voluntary help.

The winners are: Midlands Air Ambulance, Stourbridge, volunteers Yvonne and David Smart, Cathy Glear and Mary Nicholls, who have jointly volunteered for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity for over 15 years and, to date, have raised over £45,000 helping to fund 18 lifesaving air ambulance missions across the region. The foursome together with a group of almost 30 volunteers from the local area, knit and sell items at a charity stall at Russells Hall Hospital.

Heather Sharp, for St John Ambulance, Worcester, covers all of Worcester Warriors’ home games at the Sixways Stadium. She has worked tirelessly to get things working smoothly between the organisations and was presented with a Chief Officer Commendation.

Elizabeth Cater from Worcester was awarded a Chief Officer Commendation after attending to a man who had collapsed in a Worcestershire car park until a paramedic and community first responder arrived. Her actions were said to greatly improve the man's chances of survival.

Ian Hough, from Stourport, suffered a cardiac arrest at Stourport Rowing Regatta and survived because medical provision with a defibrillator was on hand.. His employer, Drpvideo, produced a film, now on Youtube under Pull Through NHS about his cardiac arrest to help and support the placement of AEDs in public places. Dale Parmenter,f of Drpvideo, received a Business Support Award.

Heather Stone, of Worcester received a Community First Responders Distinguished Service Award for her work in the Worcester area as a CFR and her commitment to attending events and showing children now to do cardio pulmonary resuscitation.

Tim Hodges, from Upton-upon-Severn received his Distinguished Service Award for his’ commitment and drive for the local CFR scheme and for the high degree of patient care that is administered by him. In some cases due to its rural location those skills have had to be done to a level and skill to be commended.

Dave Harford, a community first responder for the Worcester/Malvern area has become a coordinator and has been instrumental in obtaining a CFR car and improved overall awareness of the scheme. He continually works on-call five days a week from work and also weekends and rarely misses a training session. He has also arranged with the local fire service various road traffic collision exercise events that has been well supported.

Tina Thomas, from Kington, supports CFR schemes all across Worcestershire but particularly the Kington area. She also gives support to the new CFRs which is far and beyond what is expected from any member of the CFR team. She was also awarded a Distinguished Service Award.