AMBULANCE staff have praised a couple for saving the life of cricket club chairman Brian Scrine when he suffered a heart attack after confronting yobs who had been wrecking the pitch.

Iain and Alison McEleny, who live behind the club, rushed to Mr Scrine’s aid only an hour after he confronted a group of youths who were cycling on the Trowbridge club's square on Saturday.

Mr Eleny, 62, said: “We were just talking when the heart attack happened.

“His head fell back but his eyes were a little bit open and I thought something is definitely wrong.

“I just screamed out 'help'.

“While Alison was on the phone getting the ambulance, my daughter Faith helped me get Brian out of the van on the floor and then my wife passed the phone to her and we took it in turns to help him.”

“My wife and I worked in a private hospital and as part of our training we were told out to carry out CPR but you never expect to have to do it.

“The paramedic thanked us because they think we have given him the best possible chance but we just did what we had to and we are hoping and praying that Brian comes out of it okay.”

Several paramedic crews, including Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Great Western Air Ambulance, attended the scene and Mr Scrine, 76, was airlifted to hospital in Bristol where he was put in an induced coma.

It is understood that he has also had a procedure to put a stent in his heart to prevent a further heart attack but is still in a critical condition.

A South Western Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The importance of knowing basic first aid really can be the difference in a situation like this and the Trust would like to thank the members of the public who carried out CPR on the patient. This first aid undoubtedly helped save the man’s life.”

Mr Scrine, of Wyke Road, has been chairman at the club for a more than 20 years and his long-time partner Christine Davies has been at his hospital side since the attack.

Mr Eleny, who volunteers at the cricket club as a caterer, added that Mr Scrine takes great pride in the cricket square which is why he asked the youths to leave.

“I didn’t see much of what happened before and I didn’t realise what was going on until the police arrived,” he added.

“Brian was a bit mad but when the police had gone, he just got on with his work on the square putting up posts which stop people walking across it.

“It is a special part of the cricket club because a lot of people put a tremendous amount of work and time into it and I’ve come to learn that it is precious to cricketers.

“It is a nice little community here so if one falls ill, we all worry especially Brian because he is the heart and soul of the cricket club.”

Since the incident, four teenagers – a 17-year-old boy and three 15-year-old boys – have been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage and have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.