Local Hero, Donna Ferjani and Fiona Hale, sponsor Green Park
Two kind motorists who stopped when they saw a cyclist in distress may well have saved him from dying from a cardiac arrest.
Now Donna Ferjani and Fiona Hale have been nominated for the Local Hero award, sponsored by Green Park.
Former Reading West MP Alok Sharma also stopped and kept the 999 emergency operator informed and passed on the operator’s advice to the pair.
Peter Carey, a Reading Football Club season ticket-holder, had left home to cycle to a game on January 15 when he felt unwell and stopped on Bath Road. The nominator, a friend of Peter, said: “Peter then has no recollection of anything after this point,” he said.
Donna, who was a passenger in her mother’s car, noticed Peter standing by the roadside and mentioned to her mother that “the man stood by his bike looked unwell”.
As she was getting out of the car, Peter fell to the floor after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Donna performed CPR and Fiona, another motorist who had stopped, took over under Donna’s instructions and those from the 999 operator to try to revive him.
Peter began breathing again but stopped before the emergency services arrived, said the nominator.
“Donna and Fiona again performed CPR between them as it was ‘very tiring’ they later told me,” he added.
Peter began breathing and a paramedic and ambulance crew arrived shortly after.
“The paramedic told the ladies that they were unsure of Peter’s chances of survival but that their actions had ‘at least given him a chance’.
“Thankfully Peter survived and I managed to locate both of the ladies who kept him alive via appeals on social media,” he said, saying they planned to meet at a Reading match.
“Their selfless actions should not go unrecognised. Without the actions of Donna and Fiona he would never have been able to see his beloved Royals again.”
The Local Hero Award is sponsored by Green Park and recognises someone who, through a special act of kindness or bravery, has made a positive difference to their community.
Do you admire the amazing actions of someone you know? Let Pride of Reading awards know at porawards.co.uk
