Local News

A man in his forties collapsed and was resuscitated by staff in the gym at The Swallows Leisure Centre earlier today (Tuesday 5th April).

The Kent Air Ambulance was called shortly after paramedics arrived and landed the Borden Grammar Playing Field opposite.The man was flown to the William Harvey Hospital, in Ashford, shortly after being stabilised onsite at about 10.30am.

Dave Harcourt, Executive Officer of Swale Community Leisure, which manage the lesiure centre, told SFM News: "it was one of our regular members who collapsed whilst using the equipment in the gym. Our staff responded rapidly and began resuscitation, including the use of our on-site defibrillator, whilst waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

A spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance Service told SFM News: "we wish to express our thanks to staff at the centre, as the man had stopped breathing and CPR was needed and was commenced prior to our arrival. We continued that treatment onsite along with the air ambulance crew".

Kent Police Detectives, investigating a report that a car was stolen during a burglary in Sittingbourne, have released an e-fit image of a man they would like to speak to.

It was reported that a white Mercedes Benz E Class was stolen from The Meadows, just off Northwood Drive, between midnight and 6.30am on Tuesday 8th March.

The suspect is described as a white man, aged 18 to 20, approximately 5ft 8in tall, of skinny build and with brown hair - long on top and shorter at the sides. He was wearing a brown/green coloured parker style coat.

Witnesses to the incident, or anyone with any further information, is asked to contact Detective Constable Charlene Smith at Kent Police by calling 01795 419119 or alternatively they can call Kent Crimestoppers free (from any landline) and anonimously on 0800 555 111. quoting crime reference XY/8856/16.

Stock Picture

The Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene of a crash involving a car and a lorry on the A249 Maidstone-bound carriageway between Stockbury and Keycol at Danaway. just before 9.00pm last night (Thursday 17th March).

Crews used hydraulic rescue equipment to remove the roof of the car to release one female occupant, so that she could be cared for by the attending ambulance.

The woman who died in a fatal road traffic collision in Teynham yesterday (Saturday 13th February) has been named by her family.

Barbara Phipps, aged 73, of Lynsted, died when the bicycle she was riding was in collision with an HGV on the A2 London Road.

Kent Police are still appealing for witnesses to the collision, which happened at 10.15am yesterday morning.

Senior investigating officer, Sergeant Hannah Brown, told SFM News: "The HGV and the cyclist were both heading towards Sittingbourne when the collision occurred opposite the Swan pub. We have already spoken to a number of witnesses but are keen to speak to anyone else who saw the incident and has yet to speak to us, or who saw the cyclist or the HGV prior to the collision."

Anyone with information is asked call the dedicated Serious Collision Investigating Unit, at Kent Police Headquarters, Appeal Lne on 01622 798538 quoting 13-0365. Alternatively they can email: sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk.

The driver of the lorry, a 58-year-old man from Chelmsford in Essex, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop. He has been bailed until Tuesday 5th July while enquiries continue.