'We saved music star's life in front of thousands'

The band has posted an image of Lionel Duke as he recovers in hospital

First aiders who raced to help a musician who suffered a cardiac arrest on stage have spoken about saving his life in front of thousands of people.

Drummer Lionel Duke, 58, fell ill during a performance by his band The Christians at Liverpool's On The Waterfront festival on Sunday.

He was given CPR on stage by medics from the Merseyside Water Rescue (MWR) charity and members of the crowd before being taken to Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, where he was put into an induced coma.

His bandmates shared a photograph of him in hospital on Tuesday, smiling next to lead singer Garry Christian, with the caption "miracles do happen".

Lewis Bridson, medical lead at MWR, told BBC Radio Merseyside he was in the vicinity of the stage when Duke fell ill, but did not immediately appreciate what was happening.

"It looked to me personally that Lionel was doing some sort of sound check because he's quite far back at the stage drumming", he said.

Lewis Bridson performed CPR on Lionel Duke in front of thousands of people

"Garry himself went over to check what was going on and we saw the panic happening, and Garry literally screaming out for medics.

"We knew that it was actually quite serious."

Mr Bridson, who works as a trainee nurse in his day job, rushed into action.

He said: "It's not my first rodeo, we'll say, but it was definitely my first rodeo in front of a live audience.

"It was very difficult to get to Lionel, there was hundreds of people in front of us, barriers we had to climb over and we literally had to leap up the stage to get to him."

Steve Alcock said the incident highlighted the importance of CPR training

Mr Bridson began performing chest compressions and was joined by his colleague Steve Alcock, deputy operations manager at MWR.

"There was lots of people involved all working for Lionel, but the crowd itself were very respectful," Mr Bridson said.

"No-one was shouting, and I don't think there was any videos of what was happening, which is really, really good. We kept his dignity in mind."

Mr Alcock said the medical emergency highlighted the importance of learning CPR.

"I think the more people who know how to do the basics of CPR, the better," he said.

"It does save lives. Myself and Lewis have proven that this weekend in front of the best stage we can. It was literally on stage.

"We've seen this gentleman who, if people hadn't have been there, would not have survived."