TWO Valleys first aid volunteers saved a young girl’s life while on holiday in Lanzarote.

Brynmawr father and son Rob and Gareth Hancock came to the rescue when a six-year-old from Ireland was found unconscious at the bottom of a hotel swimming pool in Puerto Del Carmen.

They are experienced first-aiders through volunteering for St John’s Ambulance and Brynmawr First Responders and were able to resuscitate the child – who has since fully recovered.

The Hancock family, which included mum and fellow responder Pam, were halfway through their two-week break in July when another holiday-maker spotted the girl in the pool, where around 100 people were swimming.

Rob Hancock, 47, was in another pool at the time and was told someone was in trouble by members of his family.

When he arrived at the scene the girl had been pulled from the pool.

"She was totally lifeless and completely blue," he said. "It was pretty scary."

Mr Hancock and his son, Gareth, 19, carried out chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth for 15 minutes and were hugely relieved when she finally started breathing again.

She was taken to hospital in Gran Canaria and before the Hancocks flew home they were told by holiday operators Thomsons that the girl had recovered.

Welsh Ambulance Service Project Lead Officer Kevin Hands said: "I am very pleased and proud of our volunteers.

"The way Rob and Gareth stepped forward to save this little girl is in the best traditions of our First Responders.

Rob Hancock, a baker at Asda in Brynmawr, has volunteered for St John’s Ambulance for a decade and helped form Brynmawr First Responders two years ago.

Gareth, who also works at Asda, joined St John’s Ambulance as a Badger when he was five and is also a first responder.

Brynmawr First Responders currently have six members and four waiting to be trained, but are looking for new volunteers.

Anyone interested in joining can call Pam Hancock on 01495 312054 or Tony Rossetti on 02920 932917.