Hero...coach who saved a pupil's life.

Byline: By RON LIVINGSTONE

A FOOTBALL coach turned lifesaver after one of his young pupils collapsed and turned blue.

Paul Clements, 24, who works in the Boro Academy and coaching in the community scheme was holding his usual weekly session at Wilton Primary School, near Redcar when Lewis Linton was taken ill last Friday.

Paul quickly assessed the situation, got the other children out of the room and alerted headteacher Alison Hill.

He immediately started resuscitation with chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing.

Paul, from Stokesley, said the children had been doing a dance warm-up and he asked them to sit down for five minutes.

"First I saw his ear turn blue then quite quickly he collapsed," Paul said.

"I got the kids out and the head called an ambulance. I put my fingers in his hand and asked him to tell me if he could feel anything, but then he went very still and I could not feel a pulse.

"I started CPR. Then I did another sequence and I felt him spit back. I thought he might vomit and inhale it so I put him into a recovery position.

"The ambulance was there in ten minutes but it seemed like a lifetime."

The former Stirling Albion player added: "The paramedic took over from me and she immediately picked him up and ran to the ambulance with him.

"I think his heart stopped again in the ambulance and they had to bring him back.

"I believe in James Cook on the Saturday he had another two seizures and he was in a coma and put on a life support machine.

"They stabilised him and he was sent to the Freeman in Newcastle."

The lad has since had a pacemaker fitted and recovered so well he was due to return home today.

Paul added: "Dave Parnaby, the boss of the academy is very keen on the FA emergency first aid course and I'm very grateful for having done it."

Mrs Hill said: "Paul did a fantastic job. His mum wants to pass on her thanks to Paul and the school."

Paul has been on the coaching staff for three years. On returning from a coaching stint in America, he coached at TIBS - the Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick Sports organisation, and was then offered a job with Middlesbrough Football Club.

Anthony Emmerson, manager of the Enterprise Academy, said: "Everyone at Middlesbrough Football Club in the Community is extremely proud of what Paul did. We fully train our staff to cope with such situations and Paul reacted in a very professional manner.

"Out thoughts are with Lewis and his family as he undergoes the treatment for his condition and we wish him a very speedy recovery."

CAPTION(S):

PRAISE: Alison Hill; LIFE SAVER: Paul Clements, who saved the life of young Lewis Linton, is pictured with Lewis's classmates Picture by IAN COOPER