A MAN who suffered a cardiac arrest at Alton Towers yesterday afternoon is now recovering in hospital thanks to the quick actions of passers-by and Alton Towers staff.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called by staff at Alton Towers at around 4.30pm on Wednesday after a man suffered a cardiac arrest within the theme park grounds.
A community paramedic, an ambulance crew and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Tatenhill attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "The 41-year-old man was walking through the theme park with his family when he suddenly collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.
"A passing off duty GP and ambulance technician quickly rushed to his aid followed by a community first responder from Alton Towers who bought an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) from the medical centre.
"The team quickly commenced CPR, administering about eight cycles of chest compressions on the man. They used the defibrillator to deliver two shocks to the man's heart and successfully managed to restart his heart.
"When the first ambulance staff arrived the man was breathing for himself and, when the air ambulance landed, he was sitting up and talking.
"The man was assessed by ambulance staff and given further treatment before he was airlifted to University Hospital North Staffordshire where he was said to be in a stable condition upon arrival.
"This was an excellent example of how important it is to start CPR quickly in cardiac arrest cases.
"If it hadn't been for the bystanders and CPR, ambulance staff said it was unlikely the man would've survived."
