Expat suffers cardiac arrest in Abu Dhabi parking lot, passersby save him

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Expat suffers cardiac arrest in Abu Dhabi parking lot, passersby save him

Abu Dhabi - They gave him CPR until an ambulance arrived.

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Published: Mon 23 Dec 2019, 2:35 PM

Last updated: Tue 24 Dec 2019, 8:31 AM

A 55-year-old who suffered a cardiac arrest in a parking lot in Abu Dhabi was lucky to have some passersby around him, for it was these people who helped him until paramedics arrived.

An eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said they were shocked to see the British architect, identified as Lee Lanigan, falling unconscious to the ground.

"I tried to wake him up, but he did not respond."

Luckily, some people nearby knew cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

"We immediately gave him a CPR compression until paramedics from the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi arrived, and rushed him to the hospital."

Lee recovered quickly with some minor bruises, left because of the impact of the fall.

Dr Ahmad Abdulrahman, a cardiologist, told Khaleej Times that the quick action of the passersby played a vital role in saving Lee's life.

"A cardiac arrest is always associated with an abrupt loss of heart function. The patient in this case is mostly unable to breathe and lose consciousness."

The main reason behind this cardiac arrest is an electrical disturbance in the heart that affects its pumping action, ending in a stop in blood flow to the entire body, he explained.

Swift and due medical attention are critical in such cases, he pointed out. "Giving CPR by just giving compressions to the chest, or by using a defibrillator if needed, can improve the chances of survival until emergency workers arrive."

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com


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