Emergency workers wearing HAZMAT suits respond after pensioner collapses and dies in the street 

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Emergency workers wearing hazmat suits respond after pensioner collapses and dies of cardiac arrest in the street

  • An elderly man collapsed on in Stone, Staffordshire, 12.30pm yesterday
  • Two paramedics in hazmat suits attended, suits are believed to be covid related
  • Despite the best effort of medics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene

By Milly Vincent For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Emergency workers in hazmat suits were called to a town centre after a pensioner collapsed and died in the street.

Police and paramedics were called to High Street in Stone, Staffordshire, after an elderly man went into cardiac arrest at around 12.30pm yesterday.

Despite the best effort of medics and an off duty nurse who performed CPR before they arrived, the man was pronounced dead at the scene – it is not yet known if the death was covid-19 related.

Emergency workers in hazmat suits were called to High Street in Stone, Staffordshire, after a man collapsed and died in the street yesterday

Guidelines for treating cardiac arrests during the covid-19 pandemic

The majority of patients who get COVID-19 will have mild symptoms, and it is estimated about 4 per cent to 5 per cent may be critically ill.

If a patient experiences a witnessed cardiac arrest in front of ambulance responders, commence compression only resuscitation using level 2 PPE: disposable gloves, disposable apron, fluid repellent surgical mask and eye protection.

 If there is more than one responder on-scene, those trained in level 3 PPE should move to be at least 2m from the patient and don level 3 PPE before proving advanced life support assistance.

Level 3 requires disposable gloves, fluid repellent coveralls/long sleeved apron/gown, respirator hood and eye protection.

In the event of a patient being in cardiac arrest it will not always be possible to determine the potential COVID-19 risk. Therefore, this guidance should be followed for all cardiac arrests until further notice. 

Source: Gov.uk 

Photos show two paramedics in hazmat suits which West Midlands Ambulance Service said was standard protocol for potential covid-19 patients.

An Air Ambulance landed on a grassy area nearby.

During the first wave of the pandemic paramedics wore full hazmat suits when attending patients with potential covid-19 symptoms and with the second lockdown just hours away this may signal the return to the precautionary measure. 

A Staffordshire Police spokesmen said: ‘Officers were called to Stone High Street at about 12.35pm to reports of an elderly male taken ill.

‘Ambulance and air ambulance crews were in attendance but, sadly, nothing could be done and the patient died at the scene.

‘There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.’ 

One eyewitness said: ‘There were police and ambulances all over Stone. Everywhere was at a standstill.

‘It looked serious.’

Another added: ‘There were two ambulances, police cars and the air ambulance landed nearby.’

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘We were called at 12.17pm to the junction of Stafford Street and Christchurch Way in Stone following reports of a patient in cardiac arrest.

‘Two ambulances and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Tatenhill were sent to the scene.

‘Crews arrived to find an off-duty nurse and bystanders performing CPR on a man in cardiac arrest.

‘Ambulance staff took over resuscitation efforts but sadly nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead a short time later on scene.’   

Two ambulances and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Tatenhill attended the scene, but despite the best effort of medics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene

Two ambulances and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Tatenhill attended the scene, but despite the best effort of medics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene