A TEAM of firefighters and medical personnel worked together last night to treat an elderly woman who had suffered a cardiac arrest.

The 74-year-old woman had the cardiac arrest at her Tetbury home just after midnight.

A co-responder unit arrived on the scene within seven minutes of the 999 call being made and a defribillator was used in addition to CPR to treat the woman while an ambulance was on its way.

Co-responders are firefighters who have been trained in life support and respond to medical incidents in addition to the ambulance service.

A paramedic in a rapid response vehicle and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance were also called to the incident.

The patient regained consciousness and was then flown directly to Bristol Royal Infirmary where she underwent heart surgery.

Chief Fire Officer Jon Hall said: “This was life-saving treatment in support of the county’s hard-working ambulance trust and an excellent example of the fire service working with partner agencies to deliver the service Gloucestershire deserves.”