A HEROIC cop helped resuscitate a pensioner whose heart stopped beating after she suffered a cardiac arrest.

PC Adam Manly and a colleague were patrolling five minutes away from the woman when she fell ill while out hiking in Uttlesford.

PC Manly immediately started performing CPR on the woman when he realised she had stopped breathing.

He continued to work on her for 15 minutes until paramedics arrived and were able to get her heart beating again.

They used a ventilator to help her breath and she was eventually taken of to hospital in a stable condition for further treatment.

Speaking after his heroic act, PC Manly said: "I’d never given CPR before and turning up to the scene first, with her husband sitting next to us on the floor, was pretty daunting.

“But as soon as we were there, our training just kicked in and we focussed on what we had to do to try and save the woman’s life while maintaining her dignity and supporting her husband.

“When the paramedics get her heart beating and then able to breath on her own, I was really relieved. I was pleased there was a chance she was going to be ok and we had played a part in that.

“A huge part of our job is to help people in their moment of greatest need. We’re out across Essex every day protecting and serving Essex.”