A POLICE officer and a quick-thinking first-aider helped save the life of a man who suddenly collapsed at a dinner party.

Police Constable Paul Shalan, of Islington Police, and one of the 34-year-old victim’s friends gave him CPR before paramedics arrived. The man had suffered a cardiac arrest in front of his fianc�e and friends in his flat in Liverpool Road, Islington, due to a previously undetected heart defect.

His fianc�e said: “The doctors are amazed at his progress. He is an incredibly fit, healthy and strong person, and we had no reason to think there was anything wrong with him.”

The man collapsed at about 11.30pm on October 1. PC Shalan was flagged down in the street and was joined by three paramedics and officers PC Andy Boyd and PC Matt Brandon, also of Islington police.

PC Boyd said: “After seeing the man in such a bad way when we arrived, I can’t believe he is now doing so well. The doctors at the hospital said the fact that we were giving him CPR for so long helped with his survival, so I am pleased if we were able to make a difference.”