A Tonbridge man has been nominated for an award after he saved the life of a grandfather.

Mark Barnes has been shortlisted in a Workplace Hero category after he put his first aid skills to good use when 84-year-old Tony Bettsworth collapsed in Waitrose.

Mr Bettsworth had been out shopping at the Sevenoaks branch when he unexpectedly fell to the floor in July.

Mr Barnes, who works at the store, was the on-duty first aider at the time and rushed to help.

After completing initial checks alongside 17-year-old student Gregor Roberts, 24-year-old Mr Barnes administrated CPR while a colleague rang for an ambulance.

The pair worked diligently on Tony for 10 minutes in front of a store full of shoppers and managed to keep him alive until paramedics arrived.

Sarah, Tony’s daughter, submitted the awards application for the two brave men, with Mr Barnes making it through to the shortlist. Sarah said: “What they did was astonishing. To have stepped in to save his life, in front of a store full of shoppers, is incredible.

"My dad owes them his life – their actions mean he’s still here to see his grandchildren grow up. I can’t thank them enough.”

Mr Barnes, of Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge, said he is shocked and humbled at being nominated. He added: “I learned first aid through working at Waitrose, offering to go on the course when the opportunity came up.

"I wanted to know that I could step in and save someone's life if they needed help. I’ll be at the awards ceremony in July representing everyone who helped save Tony; but it’s important to remember that it was our first aid skills which kept him alive today and his family hasn’t lost a dad, and grandfather. That’s enough reward in itself.”

"It’s important to remember that it was our first aid skills which kept him alive today and his family hasn’t lost a dad, and grandfather. That’s enough reward in itself" - Mark Barnes

The St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes awards, supported by Physio-Control, have shortlisted 40 finalists.

They have all been nominated for their incredible life saving actions or unstinting commitment to ensuring more people know first aid.

The awards ceremony will be held on July 1 at the Lancaster London hotel.

Sky Sports presenter, Kirsty Gallacher, who nearly lost her father – golfer Bernard Gallacher – to a cardiac arrest, is hosting the star-studded evening. She said: "First aid is a cause close to my heart, and I can’t wait to celebrate the real heroes who’ve saved lives. My father’s life was saved because the people around him knew first aid, and every day I am grateful that they had the skills and confidence to know what to do.”

Sue Killen, CEO at St John Ambulance, said: “Everyday Heroes is the very essence of what St John Ambulance is about – ordinary people doing extraordinary things through first aid. We believe that no one should suffer for a lack of first aid, and the actions of our finalists prove that first aid really can be the difference between life and death.”

For more information about the awards or to buy tickets, click here.