Strange Morning...

[DavidJT]

Spent half an hour giving CPR to a dying man this morning. It was on the towpath so medics took 30 mins to arrive.
He was just about still alive when they took him away, but police just called me to say he died in hospital. Oh well, he wasn't young and he went very quickly and painlessly on a beautiful sunny morning riding his bike.
Time to take another first aid course (only done a very basic one, and that was 6 years ago).

Enjoy life while you can!

 

[calibanzwei]

Blimey. Well done for doing what you could. Shame though.

 

[DavidJT]

Well it wasn't only me there was two of us doing cpr, a guy on call to emergency services relaying instructions, and a couple of people running up and down the towpath trying to locate and direct the medics.

 

[Stringmaker]

As the man said; blimey.

You all did what you could to try and save a life; hopefully that is something to relect on later and take pride in.

 

[nigeltm]

Well done for trying mate.

It may not help much but in that sort of situation the chances of survival are pretty low. IIRC if you haven't got medical support and gear the survival rate is as low as 2%.

There was probably little you could have done but at least you give the feller a fighting chance.

 

[sasquatch]

Well done for trying, that's the best thing you could have done. Sorry to hear he didn't make it...

 

[John Fenna]

Well done for trying.
From personal experience - you will find it takes time to get your head around this!
The first guy I tried to help with CPR was declared dead by the hospital on arrival, the second lasted a week in hospital before dying.
You will come to get over it all but it is a very strange experience....

 

[Tengu]

You tried, and at least you were able to try.

My mother died (it was 20 years ago last weekend) like that. She was out walking and collapsed.

a couple of boys found her but even if they had known what to do, I doubt it would have helped.

 

[Paul72]

As others have said, you tried your best but unfortunately it was just his time and there's nothing we can do about that

 

[DavidJT]

Thanks for the kind comments, I feel ok now, but I'm man enough to admit there were a few tears earlier.
Better to have tried and failed etc. and I think it was his time.
Tengu thats very sad about your mum.

 

[Miyagi]

Good effort David. I take my hat off to you for trying.

I'll echo what John Fenna said.

Liam

 

[DanBow]

Yep, same as every one else. Well done for trying. I feel that there are so many that wouldn't have even tried.

 

[Essexman]

What a very moving post. Well done on making the effort, I'm sure it ment a lot to the poor chap and his family.

 

[drewdunnrespect]

well dunn david lad big thums up for trying and well its just a bit sad that he passed soon after but remember u tried and thats most important

 

[Hammock]

deep.......

 

[East Coaster]

Yes, good effort that man. At least you did something, unlike that absolutely horrendous incident in China just the other day where a 2 year old girl was knocked down in broad daylight and lay half dead while up to 18 people just walked by.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15398332

 

[British Red]

Sadly mate, most of the time all CPR does is keep them going till a Defib arrives. You did all you could, but under the circumstances even a doctor would have been unlikely to save him with a 30 minute wait.

Good job though - always worth doing what you can

 

[DavidJT]

Thanks Red, and everyone. I think you would all have done the same thing if you'd been standing there.
Don't feel bad about it, but it's changed my perspective on a few things.

 

[rik_uk3]

Well done chap, good of you to try.

 

[JJJ]

You did well. Giving hope can make the difference. He knew someone was helping him. It always reduces pain and fear and gives comfort. You could not do more.
His thanks are you might enjoy life more. As British Red said, it's worth continuing until experts arrive. Norwegians know that if someone drowns in cold water, to keep giving CPR. People have revived 12 and 18 hours later.