A RETIRED dentist who saved the life of a cyclist is urging members of the public to learn how to perform CPR.

David Humphreys, 72, brought Arnold Rimmer back to life and the pair have become the best of friends since the incident.

It happened while Mr Humphreys was visiting his son in Arnside and he saw Mr Rimmer pushing his bike up a hill.

“He didn’t look too well,” said Mr Humphreys. “When I got out of the car he said: ‘Please help me’ and then just collapsed on me. I broke his fall and caught him and followed him to the ground.”

Within seconds, Mr Humphreys had realised that Mr Rimmer’s breathing had stopped and he took it upon himself to perform CPR.

Mr Humphreys’ son, Owen, called for an ambulance. After five minutes, another member of the public arrived and took over the chest compressions and then a first responder turned up with oxygen and a defibrillator.

The defibrillator was used three times and each time the machine said ‘no response, continue CPR’.

“I think it was the fourth time, everything started,” said Mr Humphreys. “You’re so busy doing it, you’re so involved - but it was a ‘wow’ moment when it worked.”

Mr Rimmer, who is from Oldham but visits the area for holidays in his caravan, was taken to hospital and after being released he got back in touch with Mr Humphreys.

Mr Rimmer, 69, told the Gazette that he got in touch with all those who had helped him in order to thank them.

“David means everything,” Mr Rimmer, who is now back on his bike, said. “There’s no words you can say what it means to me. I died. I was out for 19 minutes and the guy brought me back. There’s no way I could repay that. He’s just a good friend now, he’s a brilliant mate.”

Now, Mr Humphreys would like to encourage other people to learn CPR so that they can give others in a similar situation a fighting chance of survival.

“I want to raise awareness of CPR and how straightforward it is,” he said. It’s a simple procedure. If something ever happens to me I’d like somebody else to help me out.”

He highlighted that the Red Cross often offer half day first aid courses, one of which he has recently attended with his wife.

“I am not complacent because I am aware the success rate is not great but that is no reason not to do it,” he said.