Glasgow trio speak out after saving woman's life with skills learned on Rangers Charity Foundation course

Yet, it still came as quite a shock when they put new lifesaving skills to use on the same day they learned them. 

That’s exactly what happened to Marco Connelly, Jay Roberts, and Melissa Stanulis, who came to the rescue of a woman after she collapsed in the city centre just weeks before Christmas. 

As others simply walked on and ignored her, the trio rushed to offer first aid they’d picked up on a course run by the Rangers Charity Foundation for young offenders and, thanks to their efforts, she stayed alive long enough for emergency services to reach the scene. 

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In time the woman made a full recovery, but it was only possible because of the quick-thinking of the group and their determination to save her. 

“It could have so much worse and everyone was just walking past her,” Jay, 16, says as he recalls the day. “She could have just died there if we were a couple of seconds later.” 

The young people found the commuter lying in a lane between Argyle Street and Buchanan Street while on their way home from Ibrox Stadium in November. When they realised something was wrong and ran over, another woman “just boosted” leaving it all up to Jay, Melissa, and Marco to save her. 

“It was all instinct because of the course,” Jay, from Drumchapel, adds. “We shouted at people to phone an ambulance and just knew what to do because we learned it all.

The trio found the woman in a lane next to the Nike store on Buchanan Street

“We started to check for her breath and put her head up so she didn’t choke on her tongue, really the things we learned on the course.

“She wasn’t speaking but I was just speaking to her to keep her engaged.

“It was a panicky situation but we got there.” 

Melissa, also 16, was first to reach the woman and that’s when instinct kicked in. 

“I was in shock,” the South Side teenager explains. “Then it was like something flicked in me and I went into action mode and knew exactly what to do.

“I never expected something like that to happen and that I would be able to take action like that.

“It was mind blowing.

Melissa, Jay, and Marco with Jamie Duncanson (back left) and Derek Rhoddan of the Rangers Charity Foundation

“People were just walking past and leaving her but something in me said we couldn’t just walk away from this. I don’t think I could live with myself if we had.” 

Realising the woman was unconscious and with a crowd gathering, Melissa took the decision to offer mouth-to-mouth – which isn’t currently being taught due to Covid guidelines – as Jay performed compressions. 

“When we were doing it and the chest compressions, I never actually thought what I was doing would actually help her,” she continues. That never entered my mind and it was just ‘do it’ or she’s going to die. I never thought anything of it.” 

While this was all going, Marco, 23, recognised CPR wasn’t enough and he sprinted off to get a defibrillator from nearby St Enoch subway station. 

“It was actually on the week we had done first aid training and we had done defib training and all that!” The Knightswood man, who has worked in bars in the city, says. “I remember thinking: ‘Thank God Derek [Rhoddan, of the foundation] put us through for first aid training’.

“We were all panicking and Mel was crying but we all just wanted to do what we could to make sure the woman didn’t die.

“There was a big crowd gathering and just watching it all unfold.” 

Shortly after Marco arrived back at the scene and gave the woman a “few shocks”, police – “who almost arrested us!” Jay jokes – and ambulance crews arrived. The woman was taken to the Royal Infirmary for treatment and later released. 

“The police actually told us she was alive and it was because we saved her,” Marco adds.

“No one wants to lose anyone especially coming up to Christmas.” 

‘I’d recommend the course to anyone’

Thanks to the Cashback For Communities – Towards New Futures course, Melissa, Jay, and Marco used their fresh start to give someone else a second chance.  

Designed for young people with past experience of the criminal system, it’s a free eight week scheme which provides a route into a “positive destination”. 

“I am a mad, mad Rangers fan,” Melissa, who worked in a hairdressers after leaving school, says. “That’s what really made this course stand out for me. I’ve got a course on Zoom and it’s with Enable Scotland which Derek and the Foundation helped me get on.

“This is going to help me apply for college to learn more about childcare and hopefully get a placement in a nursery. It’s amazing.” 

Jay agrees: “I was speaking to an advisor and she said to me there’s this course. It didn’t really sound that interesting then she mentioned it was at Ibrox and I was like: ‘Aye, I’ll definitely go there!’

“They are helping me to get a job and now I am on a course to get qualifications.” 

He adds: “I want to be either a joiner or an electrician. Some sort of trade where I could go down to Italy or a mad place. It’s great to have that opportunity.” 

Derek Rhoddan, left, and Jamie Duncanson

Marco adds: “Derek and everyone give us as much support as possible and they’ve told us they are always there if we need them. They’ve helped to give me so many more skills I’ll be able to use to find a new job. If people are thinking about doing it, they just have to do it.”

Jamie Duncanson, the Rangers CF’s senior community executive,  said: "We are very proud of Melissa, Marco and Jay and their quick thinking and bravery on that day. 

“It shows what programmes like our Cashback For Communities – Towards New Futures initiative can do, and the skills and confidence it can give to young people who perhaps need a fresh start in life.

“It’s incredible that they had just completed their first aid training and could put that knowledge to such excellent use straight away.  All three of them should be very proud of themselves.”

The Cashback For Communities – Towards New Futures scheme is due to return at the end of February.

If you would like to take part or for more information, email DerekRhoddan@Rangers.co.uk