AN ORDINARY day at work quickly became extraordinary for staff at a local supermarket, after they brought an elderly man back to life.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jodie Sing was working at the IGA store in Manilla at about 11:30 on Tuesday morning, when she heard the thump of a man collapsing and hitting the floor.
"We heard him fall and we raced around there to check out what he'd done," she told the Leader.
A heroic and lifesaving reaction kicked in when Ms Sing realised the 67-year-old man was turning blue. She couldn't find a pulse.
READ ALSO:
Ms Sing started CPR straight away, and her team mates sprung into action.
A defibrillator was rushed down from the nearby chemist, emergency services were called and the man's injuries from the impact were tended to.
Ms Sing had been trained for this critical moment as a decade-long member of NSW Fire and Rescue.
"My feeling is anyone else would have done same thing if they'd had the same training," she said.
"You don't even really think about it, you don't have time ... you just go with it."
Ms Sing hooked the man, who she said had suffered a cardiac arrest, up to a defibrillator.
"It shocked him and I gave him mouth to mouth ... as we waited," she said. "A defibrillator is worth its weight in gold ... it's the difference between life and death as far as I'm concerned.
"I count this fella very lucky, and that had a lot to do with being quick."
Ms Sing said she can't remember a lot of the details, except that it was an "intense" experience.
As she worked, the man's colour started to come back. He began to breathe and started regaining consciousness.
"It's a good outcome, he's alive and being treated ... hopefully everything turns out okay," she said.
The fire brigade called to the scene was Ms Sing's own crew, Manilla 375. They were followed by ambulance paramedics and other emergency services.
Ambulance NSW confirmed the 67-year-old man had been taken to Tamworth hospital in a serious but stable condition, where he remained on Wednesday.
A Facebook post sharing the story touched thousands of people.
"I've been humbled by it - I'm normally not the sort of person that likes to be complimented by people who don't know me, but it's been nice to get acknowledgement from the people you respect," she said.
"I'm very proud to be part of Fire and Rescue ... we've had nothing but support and genuine help and guidance."
Ms Sing said she planned to keep up with the man's condition and wished him all the best.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
