Driver donates defibrillator in thanks for life-saving CPR

A  non-Jewish Mancunian has donated a defibrillator to the local Chabad as a thank you for the life-saving CPR performed on him by the son of his Jewish boss — and the rapid response of the Hatzola volunteer ambulance team.

In his job as a driver for a graphic design company, Nigel Walsh travelled to Hendon in June to collect his boss Martin Abramson. On arrival, he suffered a cardiac arrest in the driveway, collapsing and stopping breathing before he could reach the front door.

Mr Abramson’s son David saw what had happened and called both the ambulance service and Hatzola. Although not trained in CPR, he tried to replicate what he had seen on TV dramas. His mother Karen performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

“David found me collapsed but he performed CPR and the Hatzola team arrived within seven minutes,” Mr Walsh said. “It took the London Ambulance 22 minutes to get there. I would have died without Hatzola and the Abramson family’s help.”