A HINKLEY Point construction site foreman – who fought a life and death battle at the bottom of a muddy trench to bring a man back from the brink of death – is to receive a top national life-saving honour.

Lee Mason, general foreman on the site, was talking to the 53-year-old when the man suddenly collapsed with a heart attack and fell down in the mud.

The incident happened on the afternoon of March 15 on the Hinkley Point C construction site.

Lee, a trained first aider, immediately began administering cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while calling for nearby workers to get help. On-site rescue services, the ambulance service and an air ambulance were all alerted.

But, while he waited for help to arrive, Lee carried on the gruelling process of administering CPR in the mud at the bottom of the trench for nearly 20 minutes.

A defibrillator was brought to the scene and he used that to shock the man, who then began to show signs of life. He was lifted from the trench and treated by medics based on the site before being taken to hospital where he has made a steady recovery.

Now Lee has been awarded a Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificate – and he has also won the personal praise of Andrew Chapman, secretary of the society.

Speaking at the society’s headquarters in London as he announced the award, Mr Chapman said: “Thankfully, Lee was on the spot when the man collapsed and knew exactly what to do. Time is of the essence in such cases and the sooner CPR is started the better the chances of success.

“There’s no doubt he saved the man’s life. He richly deserves the award he is to receive.”

Mr Chapman added: “At the same time, this is another case which emphasises the value of as many people as possible learning resuscitation techniques.

“I’m sure that nobody who learns how to administer CPR wants to be called on to do it. But, as this case shows, if the call does come, it can as it did here make the difference between life and death.”