A MAN whose heart stopped beating in Kidderminster town centre was revived thanks to a defibrillator and the swift actions of members of the public.

West Midlands Ambulance Service were called to Lower Mill Street, in the town centre, at around 11.30am this morning (April 26) to reports of a man, believed to be in his 20s, suffering a cardiac arrest outside the job centre.

An ambulance, a paramedic support officer, a community paramedic and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham with two critical care paramedics on board attended the scene.

A spokesman from WMAS said: “The man collapsed in the street and was recognised as being in cardiac arrest.

“Medical staff from a nearby GP surgery were quickly on the scene with a defibrillator and the team commenced CPR. An off duty paramedic was also on the scene providing assistance.

“When ambulance staff arrived they took over resuscitation efforts and quickly transferred the man by land ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

“The air crew jumped on board the ambulance to continue advanced life support en-route.

“Hospital medics were pre-alerted to the arrival of the man and by the time the ambulance pulled up outside A&E, ambulance staff had managed to restart his heart and he was breathing for himself but remained in a serious condition.

“By starting early CPR and using a community defibrillator, the man has been given the best possible chance of survival.”

West Mercia Police closed Lower Mill Street and were called to control the traffic so the Midlands Air Ambulance could land at the scene.

A spokesman from West Mercia added: “We were called to Lower Mill Street at around 11.55am.

“We assisted with traffic management to allow the air ambulance to land.

“The road was closed so ambulance staff could attend to a man in his 20s in cardiac arrest.”