AN heroic Stourbridge postman who saved a man’s life using CPR has been recognised with a national charity award.
Dan Howells, who works for Royal Mail, was hailed a hero after saving the life of pensioner Darryl Taylor on November 23, 2022.
The quick-thinking postie rushed to help and began performing CPR after retired welder Mr Taylor collapsed after stopping off at the delivery office in Stourbridge.
Dan, who had learned CPR some 15 years earlier when he was a football coach, said it had been a case of “right time, right place” and he has since been trying to encourage others to learn the lifesaving skill.
Dan’s courageous actions were praised by Mr Taylor’s hugely grateful family and his bosses at Royal Mail and this week it was confirmed he has won a national award in recognition of his lifesaving feat.
The 42-year-old has been given a CPR Hero award by the British Heart Foundation.
He was due to collect the award at the British Heart Foundation’s Heart Hero Awards ceremony in London last night (Wednesday December 6).
Speaking about the day the drama unfolded, Dan said he'd been in the office sorting the mail and Darryl, from Wollaston, had popped in to collect a parcel but was in the wrong part of the building so he pointed him in the right direction.
Moments later, Darryl’s wife Anne screamed for help - saying her husband had collapsed.
Dan said: “When I reached him he was on the floor, unresponsive.
“But instead of panicking I fortunately reacted straight away – as I was on my own, it wasn’t like I could ask anyone else.”
Luckily, Dan was able to recall his CPR skills and put them into practice and by the time an ambulance arrived 15 minutes later Darryl was breathing again.
Dan said it had taken a while to get over the shock of what happened, but he had plenty of support including from his Royal Mail bosses.
He was also able to meet Darryl, now 79, when Darryl’s relatives contacted him via social media a few days later.
He said: “The first meeting was really emotional but it’s nice that I have been able to make sure he’s OK, it’s put my mind at rest.
“We speak to each other every month now just to catch up and see how each other are getting on.”
After hearing he’d won the BHF award, Dan said: “I am proud of what I did – and that Darryl is still here to tell the story, he’s had another Christmas, another birthday because of me.
“It was just right time, right place but you never know what’s going to happen or what’s round the corner and it has made me realise how important CPR training is and that learning this easy skill really could save someone’s life.”
Greg Sage, a deputy director at Royal Mail, said: "We are incredibly proud of Dan and this award is fitting recognition of his quick-thinking actions that saved Darryl’s life.”
Since the incident, Royal Mail has partnered with the BHF with the aim of offering CPR training to 100,000 employees and Mr Sage added: “Together our goal is to protect heart health and save lives in our communities.”
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, BHF chief executive, said it was hoped the awards would “inspire others to take action against heart and circulatory diseases - by learning CPR, fundraising, or even donating unwanted goods" to a BHF charity shop.
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