A POLICE officer who gave life-saving first aid to a man at Reading Station has received an Award of Excellence this week.

PC Karla Fox was still on trial as an officer in June last year when she jumped to the rescue of a pensioner who required CPR treatment after falling ill.

The British Transport Police officer acted instinctively to save his life and she followed up her heroic act by visiting him at hospital the next day and staying in touch with the 74-year-old man ever since.

Karla said: "He appeared to be having a fit initially, but as I was with him his body just went very floppy and I remember saying to people that we needed to get him on the floor quickly.

"As we got him onto the floor he made quite a distinctive last breath type sound which I can remember very clearly.

"There was no movement or sound from him at all and so I just knew instinctively that I needed to give him CPR.

"It is nice to hear people say thank you. There's a lot that goes on that people don't realise in the police force, so any time that something gets recognised it's always a nice thing."

By the time an ambulance arrived PC Fox revived the man and medics confirmed that her immediate action had saved his life.

The man, who was from Denmark, had experienced a sudden cardiac episode.

The officer was honoured at a reception in Cardiff on Tuesday, March 21.

Nigel Goodband, chairman of the British Transport Police Federation, said: "PC Fox not only demonstrated quick thinking and dedication to saving this man's life, but proved her compassion and commitment to doing the best for the public and all early on in her policing career."