Ian Atyeo with his Royal Humane Society award. He is pictured with Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer and the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Eric Dancer.

Retired Honiton police officer stops his game of golf to rush to lifeless man’s aid.

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A former police officer from Honiton has received an award from the Royal Humane Society for saving a man’s life - while playing golf.

Ian Atyeo, who retired from his post as the town’s neighbourhood beat manager after more than 24 years on the force, was presented with the society’s resuscitation certificate by Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer at a ceremony at Exeter Castle, which was also attended by Eric Dancer CBE, the Lord Lieutenant of Devon.

His life-saving skills were put to the test when a routine game of golf was interrupted in Seaton.

As Ian was standing at the tee of the third hole, he became aware of a group shouting towards other people on the course and believed he saw a man strike out at someone sitting in an electric buggy.

Rushing over to the buggy, Ian found an elderly man slouched in one of seats, with no signs of life, and started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions.

He continued to assist ambulance crews until an air ambulance arrived.

Eddie Bunday, clinical support officer with the Devon Air Ambulance, who was deployed to the cardiac arrest victim in July 2011, said: “When I arrived on the scene, a member of the public was in the process of the very highest quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

“Subsequently, with this helper, my colleagues and I were able to successfully revive the patient where he was treated in hospital and has now been discharged.

“I have no doubt that the prompt actions and good quality first aid rendered by this Good Samaritan directly influenced the successful outcome.”