Hero Leeds student saves a politician’s life

He gave a councillor CPR in the street


A fourth year is being hailed a hero after saving a local politician after giving him emergency CPR.

Leeds Chemistry student Ben Connor was one of three lifesavers who helped Cllr Ryk Downes who had a heart attack in Pool.

Ben, who is president of the Windsurfing Society, was on a RAG training bike ride for ‘Pedal to Prague’ when he stopped to help.

After giving Ryk CPR, Ben was the one who pushed the red button on the defibrillator, which brought him back to life.

He said: “At first I thought Ryk had just fallen over and was just reaching for my first-aid kit when someone shouted he wasn’t breathing.”

“I saw he was going slightly blue so I started CPR straight away.”

Ryk Downes is the Liberal Democrat councillor for Otley and Yeadon.

Ben says “There was a crowd around some parked cars right on a dangerous corner. The other people there had got a defibrillator, which was luckily around the corner at the post office.

“One person there was trained in how to put the pads on, but I was the one who pressed the big red button. It was one of those moments in life that you actually get to press the big red button.  He jumped off the ground like in the movies.”

Ben added: “Me and one other took it in turns doing CPR until Ryk started gasping for breath just as the rapid response car came. Ryk was then taken away in an air ambulance.”

Ben and the rest of the RAG cyclists

This isn’t even the first time Ben has been on hand to give emergency first-aid. Back in 2012 a sign fell on a man’s head in Leeds city centre, and he was there to help out.

Ben said: “I wouldn’t say I’m a hero, I just have the knowledge to help people when they are in need. It’s an amazing feeling. The most important thing is that people learn first-aid as it could have been anyone in that situation.’ Luckily for Ryk it was Ben.

Ryk had suffered a near fatal heart attack and later underwent a triple heart bypass in order to save his life.

The councillor said: “I was so lucky that these amazing people were on hand when I needed them and they were able to do exactly what was necessary to bring me back to life. I will always be thankful to them for their brave actions on that day.”