Quick-thinking hero Co-op store manager uses defibrillator to help save the life of man in Yorkshire

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 25/05/2020

A heroic Central England Co-op store manager helped save the life of a man who collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest in Yorkshire.

Dave Senior, who runs the Birley Moor Road Petrol Station, in Sheffield, sprung into action on Tuesday (12 May) after passers-by called for help after finding a man working in a nearby street who had fallen ill.

The 37-year-old grabbed the defibrillator housed at the petrol station and, with the help of a nurse, used the device and CPR to bring the man back to life.

The device is one of over 300 installed at Central England Co-op food stores and funeral homes as part of an ambitious scheme funded from the 5p carrier bag levy.

Dave explained more about the events of the day and how a device paid for thanks to a ’5p carrier bag’ meant the difference between life and death.

He said: “It was a normal day at work when there was a shout from someone that they needed our defibrillator as someone was ill.

“I instinctively grabbed our machine and ran outside to find a man on the floor, conscious but in a lot of distress.

“A qualified nurse was checking him over and then, all of a sudden, he had a seizure and collapsed.

“I quickly used the defibrillator with the nurse following up with CPR - within 60 seconds we went from him collapsing to us getting him back. It was a miracle.

“The ambulance then appeared and took him away to be treated. I understand that he has had an operation now and is expected to make a full recovery.

“Afterwards I could not believe what happened and was filled with a range of emotions, I was just glad that we had the defibrillator at the petrol station.

“It just goes to show the importance of these devices and how someone buying a 5p carrier bag has helped save the life of that man.”

Central England Co-op worked closely with ambulance services to find the best locations for the devices and, where possible, fitted them to buildings externally so the community could use them 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Gavin Glidewell, Dave’s operation manager, said: “Dave is a caring and attentive leader who always goes above and beyond for his team and the local community.

“The news that he helped save a life came as no surprise and he should be really proud of his amazing actions.”

Notes to editors

Picture caption: Dave Senior, Central England Co-op Birley Moor Road Petrol Station manager.

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK with interests in food, funeral, floral, travel and property investment.

Co-operatives have always been there for their communities; they were formed to protect them and help them flourish. 

Our 7,900 colleagues who serve Members and customers work hard to ensure that co-operative values, principles and spirit flow through everything we do to help support and improve our local communities.

Owned by hundreds of thousands of Members, we have over 430 trading outlets across 16 counties including West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. 

We are proud of our reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.

We invest a percentage of our trading profit into local communities through our Community Dividend Fund scheme, have donated over £1.3 million to our corporate charity partner Dementia UK and also operate a pioneering food redistribution partnership with FareShare Midlands so unsold food goes to those in need.

Visit www.centralengland.coop for more information or follow us on Facebook or Twitter using @mycoopfood

Press office contacts: Rob Smyth and James Brindle

Phone - 01543 421390

Email - publicrelations@centralengland.coop