A MYSTERY first aider who battled in vain to save the life of a man who collapsed at the Beeches bus stop in Cirencester, has been praised for his actions.

Eyewitnesses described how a man, believed to be the driver of a National Express coach, was given emergency treatment at the roadside, first by the good samaritan, then by emergency services.

The man, aged in his 60s, who has not yet been named, suffered a suspected heart attack and died after being taken to hospital.

Cirencester resident Lee Collins, 44, who was waiting for another coach at the stop, described how the heroic first aider sprang into action before the emergency services arrived.

“I arrived and he was on the floor,” he said.

“One man was just opening his shirt to give CPR and was on the phone to emergency services.

Lee, a former pupil of Kingshill School said he believed the first aider was a passenger on the London bound National Express coach.

“All I did was help with traffic,” said Lee, adding that the road was blocked off after the coach arrived.

“I think it took about three to five minutes for the ambulance, and the man was giving CPR all the time while we waited.

“He really tried his best. When the paramedics turned up they took over from him.”

Lee also described watching an air ambulance land in a field adjacent to Burford Road.

“We were all a bit shaken up but we had to go on to Gloucester so we got on the bus and left hoping for the best,” he said.

“He was in good hands but sadly he didn’t make it.

“I did very little, the guy off bus was the star he did his best to keep him alive until emergency services arrived.

“I wish I knew his name.”

Police officers were called to the scene at 10am, with paramedics already treating the man.

A police spokeswoman said the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Over the weekend, flowers were laid at the stop, with a card addressed to ‘Chris’ from ‘Katie, Emily and Lucy’.

A spokesman for Gloucester Coroners Court said the post-mortem is due to take place today.

“We will be able to release details then, but at this moment in time he has not been formally identified,” he added.