London, Jun 12 (IANS): Veteran actress Helen Mirren honoured life-saving volunteers at a ceremony here.

Mirren's friend, publicity chief Chris Worwood, suffered a cardiac arrest at a red carpet screening of her movie “The Debt” in 2011, but he was saved by police officers who were able to resuscitate him.

“The Queen” star subsequently became patron of the London Ambulance Service charity, the Voluntary responder group, and she turned out to honour other lifesavers at the organisation's awards ceremony in the British capital Sunday night.

During the event at London's City Hall, Mirren spoke about her friend's recovery and insisted that more lifesaving defibrillator machines should be made available to the public, reports contactmusic.com.

"Chris is alive because he was given Cpr (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) techniques and and shocked by a defibrillator. More of these life-saving machines should be available across London to give others a chance of survival,” said the 67-year-old.

"It was an honour to be in the presence of people who give their time to save the lives of others,” she added.

The award winners were presented with glass trophies.