Parent saves life of linedancer at Spalding fundraising fete

Concerned onlookers as a man is treated for a cardiac arrest at Spalding Primary School's summer fete. Photo by Tim Wilson.

The man was airlifted to hospital after collapsing at Spalding Primary School’s annual summer fete, organised by members of its parent teacher association (PTA), shortly after 1pm on Saturday.

One of the PTA members, trained in first aid, helped to resuscitate the man before he was airlifted to Lincoln County Hospital for further treatment.

Sarah Walker, chairman of the school’s PTA committee, said: “One of the linedancers was taken poorly after their show and then suffered what we thought was a heart attack.

“He was given CPR at the scene by one of the PTA committee until the ambulance came. We have a trained first aider on the committee who helped the man after the linedancing display. The patient is recovering in hospital.”

The fete actually raised an astonishing £5,500 for new play equipment, outings and other activities for children at Spalding Primary School.

But the PTA is expected to make a donation to Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, as well as donating unused prizes from the fete to the charity’s shop in Spalding.

Sarah said: “The PTA is in place to fund exciting things for children at Spalding Primary School and we’re all parents or grandparents of children who attend the school.

“Everybody had a good time, but if it wasn’t for one particular lady on the PTA committee, plus the police who were on the scene and were able to assist the man who collapsed, it could have been a lot worse.

“We’ll be buying the school a defibrillator out of the funds raised and making a donation to the air ambulance.

“It shows how committed the PTA team are to the school and how we were able to pull together to save somebody’s life.”

An East Midlands Ambulance service spokesman said: “We received a call from someone at Spalding Primary School at 1.13pm on Saturday.

“The caller reported that a patient was initially feeling unwell and dizzy, but the the patient then went into cardiac arrest.

“Several resources responded to the incident, including Helimed who transported the patient to Lincoln County Hospital.”