Praise for medic who helped save Olympic coach

Dr Harj Singh said he had received "very positive messages" from the Uzbek team

A medic who helped save the life of the Uzbekistan Olympic boxing team's head coach has been described as "a proper legend".

Dr Harj Singh, a consultant at University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust, was working with Team GB's boxers at the Paris Olympics when Tulkin Kilichev had a sudden cardiac arrest.

Dr Singh performed CPR on Mr Kilichev who collapsed as he celebrated a gold medal for boxer Hasanboy Dusmatov on 8 August.

UHL chief executive officer Richard Mitchell said Dr Singh had done something "amazing".

Uzbekistan's head boxing coach, Tulkin Kilichev, was celebrating his country's gold medal before having a cardiac arrest

Dr Singh told the BBC: "We could see the Uzbeks celebrating then suddenly the mood changed and just out of curiosity I went across and found the coach collapsed on the floor.

"Something just kicked in, and you go into CPR mode. Fortunately, we had a successful outcome."

He said he felt elation when Mr Kilichev's pulse returned.

Team GB physiotherapist Robbie Lillis followed Dr Singh with an emergency trauma bag, before using a defibrillator on Mr Kilichev.

"Initially he didn't come back but, about 20 to 30 seconds later, after Harj continued doing CPR, all of a sudden he came back conscious with us, which was great," Mr Lillis said.

Dr Singh said he had contacted the Uzbek team and was told Mr Kilichev is making a good recovery.

When asked how it felt when Mr Kilichev regained consciousness, Dr Singh said: "You think about the person in front of you that could’ve passed away.

"Also, all their loved ones. Thinking about them and how you’ve saved them going through a bereavement."

He added that he was sure that if he had not been there, another team would have stepped in to help.

Dr Singh says CPR should be taught in schools

Trust chief executive Mr Mitchell said: "Harj you are a proper legend.

"What you did out in Paris was amazing. Thank you so much for being part of the team here."

Dr Singh said he believes CPR should be taught from a young age "so it becomes second nature when it needs to be used".

He added: "Obviously it’s going to be anxiety provoking, but if you have that skill to save a life, how amazing is that?"

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