A LIFESAVER told of his shock after he was warned off providing help to his 150 neighbours by Basildon Council.

Emergency first responder, Hugh Hunter, 65, was dumbfounded when he receivedaletter from the council saying helping neighbours in Spencer Court, Wickford, would be a “conflict of interest”.

His vital role means he is first to arrive at the scene of an emergency and has saved people’s lives in the time it takes for an ambulance to arrive.

The letter was sent after he helped an elderly resident in one of the flats, who had been on the floor for 50 minutes with a suspected broken hip.

Mr Hunter said: “The council has gone mad.

“Eighty per cent of the residents in the building are elderly, which is one of the reasons whyIbecame an emergency responder.

“This is beyond a joke. If someone next door to me has a fall, according toBasildon Council, I am not allowed to help them.

“A lot of people are at risk and so are their families visiting, who could be taken seriously ill.”

Mr Hunter has been trained by the East of England Ambulance Service and has access to oxygen, and a defibrillator, as well as other equipment.

As well as attending to people with suspected heart attacks and breathing difficulties, Hugh also evacuated Spencer Court when there wasafire.

He added: “I would still attend anyone in trouble. To me it isacase of someone’s mother or father and I will only beaminute away from them, and I could save their life.”

A Basildon Council spokesman said the letter, which was addressed to Mr Hunter, was sent by mistake.

The spokesman added: “The council will be contacting him shortly to discuss the matter."