STALLHOLDER CRITICAL

Extreme heat factor in worker’s heart attack

A STALLHOLDER at Helensvale NightQuarter is fighting for life after extreme heat brought on an underlying medical condition that caused a heart attack.

The 45-year-old woman was working at the markets when she collapsed about 5pm on Saturday. NightQuarter director Michelle Christoe said it had shaken the “close-knit” community.

A STALLHOLDER from a popular Gold Coast market is fighting for life after extreme heat brought on an underlying medical condition that caused a heart attack.

The 45-year-old woman was working at Helensvale NightQuarter when she collapsed about 5pm on Saturday.

The market’s own first aid officers performed CPR on the woman, a long-time stallholder, until several paramedic crews arrived.

The woman was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital, where she remained in a critical condition last night.

It is believed the woman’s family runs the ‘Not Just Retro’ stall at the markets, but it is unknown where she was when the incident occurred.

Queensland Ambulance senior operations supervisor Luke Wyatt said a “multitude of crews” responded.

Mr Wyatt said it was one of the most extreme heat cases and while the woman had an underlying medical condition, heat was a major contributing factor.

“Crews were called to reports a woman had collapsed, on arrival we found a 45-yearold woman in cardiac arrest,” he said. “She was transported to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

“It appears she was working at the market ... reports were that she had been working there throughout the day.”

Mr Wyatt said paramedics responded to a number of heat-related incidents across the region. Two other people attending the markets were transported to hospital for heat-related stress in the same evening – a 30-year-old woman who fainted while shopping and a man in his 60s.

Temperatures soared across the city on the weekend, with the mercury almost tipping 40C in western suburbs.

NightQuarter director Michelle Christoe said the market community was shaken.

“A popular vendor suffered a heart attack prior to opening the market, two of our senior first aid officers were on the scene immediately and administered CPR, which continued until the paramedics arrived,” she said.

“It is a close-knit community at NightQuarter and we are concerned about our vendor and her family.

“We remain in contact monitoring her condition and are supporting the family through this difficult time.

“The incident was highly distressing for all vendors and our management team, we wish her a speedy recovering and our thoughts are with her at this time.”

Ms Christoe said it was unusually hot on Saturday.

“Last night we called the Queensland Ambulance services for three incidents. This was highly unusual and unfortunate,” she said. “Causes for their conditions have not been confirmed to NightQuarter.”

A Workplace Health and Safety spokesman said the department had not been informed, but would be looking into the matter.