Nonthaburi – In a life-threatening moment, a 66-year-old man with heart disease fainted at a bus stop. Police from Rattanathibet Police Station and passing paramedics saw the situation and intervened just in time before taking him to hospital.
At 16:30 on 21 Aug 2016, police officers at Rattanathibet Police Station in Nonthaburi were alerted by a member of the public that an elderly man had fainted at the bus stop near the entrance to the Purple Line BTS station on Rattanathibet Road, Bang Krasor Subdistrict, Mueang Nonthaburi District.
Police officers went to check and found the elderly man unconscious, lying on a stone bench. They unbuttoned his shirt, and local residents helped fan him and offered smelling salts as initial first aid while coordinating with rescue workers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation.
After first aid, the elderly man regained consciousness. He was identified as Mr. Somphon Sutthi, 66 years old. Medication packets for hypertension and heart disease were found on him. Rescue workers arrived and helped transport him to the Chest Disease Hospital.
Mr. Jinnapat Thapan, 19, a student wearing a black T-shirt, said that while riding a motorcycle taxi to the scene and about to pay his fare, the elderly man grabbed his hand and asked him to call an ambulance, saying he felt unwell. Then the man collapsed. He told a female companion to run to the police station to seek help, after which police arrived to assist.
Mr. Theeraphat Sonrit, 23, a paramedic from the Cardiology Department of the Chest Disease Hospital, and Mr. Netiwut Chokchai, 23, an emergency staff member at the same hospital, said they were leaving work and saw a crowd at the bus stop while riding their motorcycles. They suspected someone was ill, stopped to help, and found the elderly man unconscious. They administered first aid until he regained consciousness.
Upon questioning and observing his symptoms, they learned the man had heart disease with pain radiating to his back. Heart patients typically carry medicated lozenges to relieve pain. After transfer to the hospital, he will undergo an electrocardiogram to assess the severity of his heart condition.