Dorset at War: Suspected heart attack victim airlifted to hospital
12:00pm Monday 25th June 2012 in News By Harry Hogger
EMERGENCY services responded swiftly when a woman collapsed on the parade route following a suspected heart attack.
The 70-year-old fell ill outside the Dorothy Inn during the procession and had to be airlifted to hospital, with the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance helicopter landing on Weymouth Beach.
However, after receiving treatment at the scene, that included the use of a defibrillator, she was said to be talking by the time she arrived at Dorset County Hospital.
Ollie Rankin, 15, a member of the Weymouth Canoe Lifeguards, was among the first on the scene to attend to the casualty, along with his colleague Jack Oughton.
He said: "I saw people gathering so we got there and checked her over and she didn't have a heartbeat.
"Then a lady who said she was a nurse started CPR."
Dorset Police, the South West Ambulance Service and members of St John Ambulance who had been at the veterans' parade all attended the scene.
Ollie, who is currently doing his bronze medallion which includes first aid training, helped set up a screen around the casualty and kept in contact with the beach control team as the air ambulance arrived.
He said during that time RNLI lifeguards arrived with a defibrillator to assist with her treatment.
A spokesman for the air ambulance said: "A woman had suffered a cardiac arrest.
"When the air ambulance crew got to the hospital she was talking.
"The Lifeguards were first on the scene and treated the woman while the air ambulance was called.
"Crews landed on the beach, left their rotors running, got her straight on and took her to Dorset County Hospital.
"It is believed that she was part of the parade, carrying a banner."
Martin Buttle, chairman of Weymouth Canoe Lifeguards, said "Two of our lads, Jack Oughton and Ollie Rankin, were involved.
"They were first to attend, along with a nurse from the crowd who resuscitated her.
"St John and the lifeguards and Ambulance Service crews then came and took over.
"The lads said she came around by the time they were taking her to the helicopter, which is a really good sign."
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