Littlehampton first aid champ left bleeding at Civic Centre

Martin McKeown, who received the honour as part of a UN team working in the Lebanon, was staggered when the receptionist he asked for a plaster from a first aid kit replied: "No. They are for us."

His son Darragh, eight, a junior St John Ambulance first aid champion, was bleeding badly from his leg wound, having tripped on the pavement nearby.

The receptionist told Mr McKeown she was concerned the boy might have an allergic reaction to the plaster, but Mr McKeown, who served in a medical team with the Irish defence force for the UN in Beirut 24 years ago, said he wouldn't, and asked for a bandage instead.

Again, the receptionist replied: "They are for us."

Angered by the refusal to help, Mr McKeown took Darragh, and his twin brother Shea, who was also with them, to the nearby Fitzalan Medical Centre, where his gashed leg was treated.

Darragh, a pupil of Summerlea Primary School, Rustington, and the Sussex St John Ambulance Badgers' reserve first-aid champion, said: "My leg really hurt. It was bleeding quite a lot, down my leg and there was blood on my hand and trousers, too."

Mr McKeown, of Granary Way, Toddington, said he stood in shock at the receptionist's response, and then told her: "You should be ashamed of yourself."

Speaking to the Gazette, he said: "I've been a first-aider for many years, I've given 50 pints of blood and I always stop for accidents, or help if neighbours come round with an injury any time of day or night.

"I pay 1,200 council tax a year but when we wanted help from the council, they wouldn't even give us a sticking plaster."

Earlier this year Mr McKeown, working as a night porter at the White Swan Hotel on the outskirts of Arundel, gave first aid to a dying man who was struck by a wheel which flew off a passing lorry.

Both his sons are in the St John Ambulance Badgers group and Mr McKeown is the St John Littlehampton divisional officer.

A spokeswoman for Arun said: "We would of course endeavour to come to the aid of anybody who had injured themselves or was in distress and asked for our help.

"We will try and do a better job next time and sincerely apologise to Mr McKeown and his son."

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