A pensioner who banged his head and turned blue in a Lanarkshire Asda supermarket has thanked two staff members for saving his life.
George Chastell had been shopping by himself at the Asda Newmains branch in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, when he suddenly took unwell. The 73-year-old lost consciousness, fell to the ground and cut his head as it cracked off the floor.
First aider Sandra Moroney and Elaine Doherty immediately sprang into action, putting their skills and training into practice. George had suffered a bad cut to his head from the fall, so Sandra dressed the wound and kept him under close observation while Elaine dialled 999, reports the Daily Record.
READ MORE: Young Lanarkshire mum with terminal cancer rejects chemo to spend last weeks with her children
Medics attended and ruled the pensioner had suffered a seizure. Sandra acted quickly to clear George's airways but thankfully, he started to come round, much to everyone's relief.
During the incident, Elaine was on the phone to George's wife, Tonya, and helped to keep her calm. From there, George has to spend eight weeks in hospital and had a cardiac arrest defibrillator fitted.
Since the incident, he has been making good recovery and has even managed to return to the store to thank the colleagues with Tonya.
He said: “I am so glad that they were there to look after me and talk to Tonya – it meant a lot to me that they were able to let her know how I was doing as she would have been so worried. Thanks to both of them for going above and beyond to make sure I was okay.”
Tonya added: "I am extremely grateful for the help Sandra and Elaine gave George. I could hear them talking to him in the background and I knew that they were taking good care of him.”
Sandra and Elaine have now been nominated for Asda service superstar awards for their actions. Elaine said she was just so thankful they could help and that George was recovering.
She said: "I was there when George collapsed, I thought it was some kind of seizure but when I got over to him I realised it was a lot more serious than that.” We just did what we could to help George, thankfully we were able to put our skills into practice and keep him conscious until the paramedics arrived.
"I’m just so grateful that it all turned out well in the end and that George is making a good recovery, it could have been much worse.”
Sandra said: “It was scary, but the adrenaline just kicked in and I knew it was what I have been trained to do. I just thought we have to help this person; at the end of the day it could have been my dad or grandfather and I hope anyone else would do the same thing.”
“I am more accustomed to asthma and diabetic episodes as my daughter is diabetic and we are both asthmatic. I am very proud of how we handled the situation and it’s great to be trained for these types of situations as it could happen to anyone.
"I am so relieved we were able to help and that he’s making a good recovery, and I am proud of the ongoing support George and Tonya has received from our team at Asda Newmains.”
Barry Nicholson, the store's food hall trading manager, said everyone was inspired by of their actions.
He said: “I don’t think you can put into words how proud we are of the two of them. I was not surprised to hear how they had stepped in to help. Sandra and Elaine always give 100% to their colleagues and customers and this is just in their nature to go above and beyond. Thank you, Sandra and Elaine!”
READ NEXT:
Glasgow MMA fighter 'didn't win' as three rape survivors refuse to hide
Glasgow hospitality group behind Lebowskis and The Finnieston goes into liquidation
Bearsden dog walker banned from running animal business from flat amid noise row
Iconic Shawlands pub on hunt for new management to take over and modernise it
Inspiring Rangers fan the first wheelchair mascot to make it onto pitch in adorable scene
