An Asda delivery driver brought a dog walker 'back from the dead' after pulling over to give him CPR while on his rounds. Ant Head wasn't even supposed to be working on the day he was making his deliveries around Stoke-on-Trent when he saw a man in difficulty on the street.
Ant, 30, who works from Asda's Wolstanston store, carried out chest compressions on Rob Colburn, 47, until paramedics arrived. Ant then calmly carried on with his grocery deliveries.
Dad-of-two Rob, who was essentially dead at one point, said: “I am so unbelievably grateful for Ant saving my life and giving me CPR. I'm so thankful. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here today. I'm meeting up with Ant soon to thank him personally for what he did."
Ant, who has worked at the store for four years and has two children, said: "I was just driving in the Longton area and I saw a figure in the road, which turned out to be Rob.
"He looked like he was having a seizure at first, then his breathing became laboured and then non existent. His lips were going blue and his face purple and I couldn't find a pulse. It was then that I said to myself 'this is it' and started to do CPR while another gentleman, who'd pulled over, called 999.
"They spoke to me over the phone while I did the CPR – I was singing Nellie the Elephant in my head to get the right rhythm!
"I was possibly doing CPR for about five to ten minutes, but it really seemed a lot longer. I was so relieved when the paramedics arrived and then the air ambulance."
In the meantime, Rob's wife Nicola had arrived at the scene and Ant was reassuring her that her husband was okay. Rob, who has two sons Jamie, 23, and Jack, 18, was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital where medics continued to save his life.
Ant, who's married to Grace and has two children Iris, who's seven, and two-year-old Charlie, completed his first aid training late last year through the World Jujutsu Federation where he is a coach.
He said: "I just did what anyone with CPR training would have done. I saw someone who needed help and I helped. I do think being trained in first aid is so important and that more people should do it.
"I wasn't even meant to be in work that day. We were a driver short so I was asked if I could come in which I did. If I hadn't I wouldn't have been driving down that road – it's fate!"
After finishing his shift Ant even went to the hospital with food and drink for Nicola in case she needed it.
Rob, who's a distribution operative for Severn Trent Water, is now recovering well at home. He said: "I was given a five to ten per cent chance of survival so to be here today telling my story is amazing. I have been named the miracle man by my doctor!
"Everyone at Royal Stoke University Hospital who has treated me has provided me with great care and I will be forever thankful.”
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust posted on Facebook to thank Ant for his quick thinking: On the post, emergency medicine consultant Dr Paul Hancock said: “When Robert arrived in the Emergency Department he was critically unwell. He was essentially dead for a period of time and thanks to the speedy reaction of the delivery driver who gave him CPR he was given the best chance of survival.
"It is incredible really that he walked out of hospital as well as he did and just two weeks after his arrest is really some kind of miracle. It is great to hear how well he is doing.”
Rob’s wife Nicola said: “It’s been so brilliant to witness Rob’s recovery. CPR is so important and we were told the CPR Rob received was first class so it just highlights how important it is to know what to do. Thank you Anthony and everyone who helped to save Rob.”
Amy Jones, online trading manager at Asda's Wolstanton store, said: "What Ant did that day was just amazing. We are so, so proud of him.
"He did a few deliveries and then he saw Rob collapse, gave him CPR and then carried on with the rest of his deliveries. He saved someone's life, then continued with his run like it was nothing!
"He is such a lovely person. He is always putting everybody else before himself. He is just a superstar."
Rob has been nominated for an Asda service superstar award for his actions.
