A HERO from Bedfont has returned from a blissful honeymoon in the Maldives after marrying his childhood sweetheart.

Simon Bell, 28, of Marriott Close, is well-known in the area for saving the life of a 53-year-old man on his first shift as a volunteer for St John Ambulance last year.

Mr Bell, a car salesman, tied the knot with Suzanne Harris, also 28, at the end of last month at St Mary's Church. Their reception, which included a first dance to a Take That song, was held at the Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey.

Mr Bell's father Ian said: "They have been together ever since their school days at Longford Community School (now Rivers Academy) almost 12 years ago, It's was great to see them finally get married. The wedding was wonderful, the weather was beautiful, it could not have gone any better."

Suzanne, a freelance hairdresser, created beautiful handmade invitations for her big day, as well as creating stunning flower arrangements.

Ian said it was a great day for everyone who attended, including his wife Margaret and Suzanne's parents Kim and Perry Harris.

Mr Bell was 27 when he undertook his first shift with the St John Ambulance Service and the London Ambulance Trust.

His training as a community first responder was really put to the test when he went to Tachbrook Road and found a man suffering a cardiac arrest.

Mr Bell delivered three shocks with a defibrillator until the patient's heart rate was restored.

The man was taken to hospital and later made a full recovery.

He was presented with an award by Dr Jasmeet Soar, chairman of the Resuscitation Council UK, at the National Lifesaver Defibrillator Awards dinner, at the Royal College of Pathologists, in London, last October.

The event was hosted by the national cardiac charity SADS UK (Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome).

Anne Jolly, founder of the charity, said after hearing of Mr Bell's actions: "We are so pleased that Simon's quick action resulted in this gentle-man's life being saved.

"His award is richly deserved. "If a person goes into cardiac arrest, a therapeutic shock delivered by the defibrillator as quickly as possible gives the person the best chance of survival."

Mr Bell described seeing the man sit up in the back of the ambulance as like "winning the lottery", adding that "it was such a good feeling."