A man whose heart stopped beating was revived thanks to a defibrillator and the swift actions of members of the public in Kidderminster.

The man suffered a cardiac arrest on the pavement outside Job Centre Plus in Lower Mill Street just before 11.30am on Tuesday morning. An ambulance, a paramedic area support officer, a community paramedic and the Midlands Air Ambulance with two critical care paramedics on board attended. A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said:

“The man collapsed in the street and was recognised as being in cardiac arrest. Medical staff from a nearby GP surgery were quickly on scene with a defibrillator and the team commenced CPR. An off duty paramedic was also on scene providing assistance.

"When ambulance staff arrived they took over resuscitation efforts and quickly transferred the man by land ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital. The air crew jumped on board the ambulance to continue advanced life support en route. “By starting early CPR and using a community defibrillator, the man has been given the best possible chance of survival.”

Hospital medics were pre alerted to the arrival of the man and by the time the ambulance pulled up outside A&E, ambulance staff had managed to restart his heart and he was breathing for himself but remained in a serious condition.