04 January 2009
Quick action on the part of bystanders is being credited with saving the life of a Hamilton motorist who had a heart attack while driving this morning.
Constable Myles O'Donnell of the Hamilton Strategic Traffic Unit said the incident happened on Whatawhata Rd about 10.30am.
"The 60-year-old driver has had an apparent heart attack and slumped over the wheel whilst driving down Whatawhata Rd.
"His car crashed into a number of parked cars grabbing the attention of bystanders who rushed to see what was going on."
Mr O'Donnell said fortunately for the sick man people at the scene were quick to realise what had happened and began CPR while others raised the alarm.
"CPR was already underway when we arrived and took over, attending paramedics told us they believed the man had been out for between 14-15 minutes which is a long time by anyone's standards.
"The man was taken to Waikato Hospital's Cardiac Care Unit, the paramedics told us he was stabilised and later in the day was able to talk to medical staff. He's said to have a good chance of full recovery so what those members of the public did was great."
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