Lifesaving ‘angel’ comes to rescue of Norma, 89
CHRIS USES FIRST AID SKILLS AFTER WOMAN COLLAPSES IN THE STREET
TO Norma Thompson and her family, Chris Harrison is nothing short of an angel.
The 89-year-old’s life was hanging in the balance after her pacemaker failed. She collapsed in the street and stopped breathing.
By an incredible stroke of luck, Chris just happened to be driving by the scene in Blackley . He immediately pulled over and raced to help.
The assistant contract manager checked Norma’s vital signs and found that her pulse was only beating once every three seconds.
Chris stayed calm and began chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, repeating this three times until she began to breathe on her own. Paramedics then arrived.
Determined to make sure Norma was okay, Chris travelled with her to hospital and stayed with her until 3.30am, when her daughter arrived after travelling from the Isle of Man. Chris has been hailed a hero for his brave actions. But the modest 31-year-old, from Runcorn, says he is just happy to have been able to help. He said: “When I first saw Norma lying on the floor I just wanted to see if there was something I could do to help. “Thanks to my first aid training I was able to use this to check her condition and perform CPR while we waited for the ambulance. “I was just happy that I was able to make a difference and it is a big relief to know that Norma is now recovering from her ordeal.” Now Chris, who works for Salford-based Liberty Group has been recognised for his heroic actions by his employer, while Norma’s family says they will be ‘eternally grateful’ to him. Norma’s daughter Linda McQueen, Norma’s daughter Linda McQueen said: “If it wasn’t for Chris’s quick actions my dear mother would have lost her life.
“With all the bad things that are happening in the world, you start to believe there are no good people out there, and then you meet an angel like Chris.
“The doctors told me that Chris’s actions have given my mother a 60 per cent chance of recovery rather than not being with us, so I’m forever grateful to him.”
Karen Sloan, chief operating officer at Liberty, added: “We are so proud of Chris and his bravery in rushing to help Norma.
“Not only did he act fast, but he continued to go above and beyond to look after Norma and her daughter in what was an extremely traumatic and terrifying experience for them both. This really goes to show the importance of investing in first aid training for staff.”