A POLICE officer who tried to save a teenager’s life by performing CPR has been commended by the chief constable for her professionalism.

PC Carly Boitoult, 35, responded to a call over a boy, 13, who had suffered life-threatening injuries at his Southend home in August last year.

When she arrived at the scene, she also found the boy’s twin brother and a friend.

She found no sign of life, but carried out CPR until paramedics arrived.

It was only the second time PC Boitoult had done CPR outside of training, but she managed to find a pulse and the boy was taken to hospital.

She said: “It is something I have never experienced before.

“I was there on my own before the paramedics arrived.

“You’ve got to weigh up the situation, but the main thing is you’ve got to save the life of a little boy.

“I was surrounded by pictures of the boys growing up. It was heartbreaking. I just did everything I could.

“The paramedics praised me for what I did. They said I did it brilliantly.”

Although she had managed to revive the boy, hedied from his injuries two weeks later.

PC Boitoult, who grew up in Southend and has been a police officer for 13 years, said: “I just cried for days on end.

“When you give someone CPR you do take it personally.”

She was among a group who were commended at a ceremony at Essex Police’s headquarters in Chelmsford on Friday.

She said: “It is a nice feeling to be thanked for something.

You just do what you think it best.

Chief constable Stephen Kavanagh said: “This was about recognising the bravery and dedication that policing in this county is about.

“We are taking the time to say thank you to the officers who go that extra mile.

“Policing is not perfect, but it is still the best in the world.

“Too often what they do doesn’t get recognised.”