Samaritan has message for family of tourist who died in Pak’n Save carpark
A woman who gave CPR to a dying tourist in a Taupō supermarket car park wants to connect with her loved ones to tell them she passed on peacefully.
Shona Kramer was on holiday with her family at their bach in Turangi when they decided to head to Taupō for the day to do some shopping.
Kramer said she was no more than 10 metres from the scene of the accident that left a Canadian woman dead and would now like to speak to her husband and parents about her final moments.
Police have not yet released the name of the 29-year-old Canadian woman who was killed after being run over by a car at the entrance to Pak’n Save in Taupō at 2.45pm on Wednesday, April 17.
The driver of a vehicle involved, and two other pedestrians, one being the woman’s husband, were taken to Taupō Hospital with minor to moderate injuries.
The Waikato Times understands the husband has travelled home to Canada with his wife’s body. But, Kramer, who was left shocked and traumatised by the events on the day, is seeking closure for the woman’s family and wants to get in touch with them, and another man who was there at the time.
“I was sitting in the carpark across the road, about 10 metres away, when I heard a loud bang, and then another massive bang and a blood curdling scream.
“I looked across the road and saw [the woman] lying on her back and I ran straight over there - me and an older man said we both had CPR training but he told me I’d probably be better at it.”
Kramer said she administered CPR to the woman, who showed few signs of life, and tried to calm the woman’s husband who was lying next to her. He told me their names and that she was the love of his life. I was trying to keep him calm, he really wanted to know if she was okay.”
But, Kramer said she knew the woman was very close to death and moved aside to let the husband hold her hand in her final moments. When the ambulance arrived, I stepped back and out of the way ... I had to stop my grandson coming over to see what happened because he thought it was me who had been hurt.
“I think I was with her when she passed and if I were her parents I would want to know she was okay at that moment.
“There was no anxiety or panic from her. She was serene and graceful. I want to send him a letter to tell him how brave he was, that he was holding her hand and she was as peaceful as she could be when she passed.” Kramer said a lot of people who witnessed the accident would also have been traumatised and she had sought help from Victim Support. “They have been amazing, but that day has kept coming back to me ... and I just want to reach out to her family and to her husband to let them know what happened.”
Kramer also wants to get in touch with an older man with a dark beard who also offered to give CPR. I think his name was Noel, or Geoff, but I gave him my mobile number to give to the husband. I’m not sure if he did that.”
Kramer is part of a community patrol in Kapiti where she lives and said she was taught CPR as part of their training. Kramer has asked anyone who can help contact the family of the dead woman, or the man with the beard, to email the Waikato Times at news@waikatotimes.