A Penryn PCSO has been heralded as a hero after saving a man’s life in the line of duty.

Police Community Support Officer Lewis Vague, pictured right at an awards ceremony, was on evening patrol through Lower Market Street last Thursday when he came across a man who had collapsed on the pavement.

The man, in his late 20s, was unconscious after suffering what later turned out to be an epileptic fit and was “making a bit of a gargling noise,” PCSO Vague said.

“I turned him over and checked his airway – his tongue had slipped back and was blocking it so I cleared that and put him into the recovery position.”

While PCSO Vague busied himself with first aid, a patron of Number 20 wine bar spotted the commotion outside and phoned for an ambulance.

The medics arrived and checked over the man who had collapsed, a Penryn local, but he soon recovered from his ordeal having suffered little more than a bang to the head.

“I was just doing my normal patrol as we do on an evening,” said PCSO Vague.

“It was a bit of a shock because it’s not something you have to deal with every day – you have to recall everything you learned in training.

“But knowing the basics of first aid obviously helped him.”

Community Sergeant Gary Watts took time out from dancing Gangnam Style to congratulate PCSO Vague on social networking website Twitter.

He described his colleague as a “hero” adding: “Well done Lewis!”