Dad rescued by best friend of his son

Driver swerved into ditch after suffering cardiac arrest

A Good Samaritan helped rescue his best friend’s dad after he suffered a cardiac arrest and swerved into a dyke.

Ryan Aldridge was driving on King’s Delph towards Whittlesey on Monday afternoon when he saw Phil Storey coming the other way, but he realised quite quickly that something was wrong.

“He looked like he was falling asleep,” said Ryan (24) of Cardea.

“I saw in my rear view mirror he had swerved and just missed me, then he swerved onto the bank.

“I could not get through so I parked the truck on the road and ran down.

“The car was smoking - he hadhisfootontheaccelerator. Somebody chucked a metal bar and another bloke joined Ryan Aldridge me. We smashed the window of thepassengersidedoorand I climbedinandturnedtheignition offandtookoffhisseatbelt.

“Another bloke turned up andbetweenthethreeofuswe managed to get him out of the car andawayfromthevehicle. We were worried it was going to catch fire.

“We did emergency CPR for 10 minutes and got him back breathing before the emergency services arrived.”

Ryanadmittedhewaspanicking when he saw Phil’s car had crashed into a tree, but that the adrenaline kicked in andheknewhehadtogodown the embankment and help.

Hesaidhewasstillinshock at what had happened, but that Phil’s son Hayden, who is Ryan’s best friend, was grateful for his actions.

The pair have known each other for years after going to Alderman Jacobs Primary School and Sir Harry Smith Community College in Whittlesey.

Phil remains in Peterborough City Hospital, and Ryan said: “Hopefully he can make a full recovery. He’s a lovely bloke. I’mhappyI’vedonethis but I just want to know he is going to be okay.”

Ambulance crews were at the scene for an hour-and-ahalf from 6pm on Monday, with the East of England Ambulance Service sending an ambulance crew, rapid response vehicle and ambulance officer.

A spokesman for the servicesaidparamedicshelpedrestart MrStorey’s heart before takinghimbylandambulance to hospital.

MagpasHelimedixalso attended the scene, as did fire crews from Stanground and Whittlesey.

Ryan added: The ambulance service, the police and the fire brigade did a great job and worked together well.”