Lancaster pool player saves team mate's life

Tom Jones, a member of Lancaster B Pool team, suffered a heart attack whilst playing a friendly match at the Bowerham Hotel in Lancaster.

Ben Clifton, performed 10 minutes of CPR on his team-mate Tom Jones before the paramedics arrived. Tom was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary before later being transferred to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Peter Corke, the pool team captain, said: “The doctors at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary told Tom’s family that he would have died if it was not for Ben’s actions. He’s a hero, but a very modest one!”

Ben, 32, said: “At first I thought Tom had gone into a state of shock, almost as if he was having an epileptic fit, then I thought he was choking but there was no signs of breathing so I started to perform CPR.”

Ben was trained in first aid through his work at Witherslack Group, who provided education and care to children and young people.

Tom is now resting at home with his family after undergoing a triple bypass operation.

Since the accident Ben and his fellow players have decided to hold a 24-hour ‘Poolathon’ to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.

The pool marathon will be held at the Bowerham Hotel on Saturday, May 21, and the team hopes to raise around £1,000 for the charity.

The event will begin with a talk from Karl Boyes – a member of the Mosconi Cup wining European 9 Ball Pool team.

Then the Lancaster team along with members of the public will play pool non-stop for 24 hours.

The ‘Poolathon’ will also include a family fun day, with a kids’ DJ, face painting, a cake sale, and a raffle with prizes, including a signed cue and case from Karl as well as prizes donated from local businesses and also from Darren Appleton (another member of the European 9 Ball Team).

There will also be a martial arts weapons demonstration, a professional circus skills act, a free children’s disco, an ice cream stall and a hog roast.

The weekend event is free apart from the talk with Karl Boyes, which costs £3. These tickets are available from the Bowerham Hotel, on Bowerham Road, Lancaster.

Anyone can come along to the pool marathon and support the team in their 24 hour challenge. To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/Ben-Clifton5.