Scuba save stricken pensioner with their oxygen tanks after she fell ill

Two passing scuba divers helped save the life of an OAP who fell ill in a shop - by giving her oxygen from their tanks.

Andrew Lowde and pal Matthew Harland, 33, had popped into a Co-op store on their way to diving session when they noticed staff rushing to the aid of an old lady.

The un-named OAP had turned purple and seemed to be deteriorating so the pair asked someone to dial 999.

When they heard that an ambulance could take an hour and a half to get them they dashed back to their car to retrieve a tank of oxygen to give help her.

They then helped give the woman - known only as Margaret and in her 80s - oxygen to ease her breathing and help her recover before paramedics arrived and took over.

The incident happened as Andrew and Matthew were travelling to Gildenburgh Water, Cambs when they pulled into the shop at Whittlesey, Cambs.

Andrew, a heating and gas engineer from Hemel Hempstead, Herts, said: "When we got there, there was an elderly lady sitting in a chair and people were saying she had been taken ill.

"She was going a purple colour, which is a sign of oxygen starvation - she was very frail and you could see her condition deteriorating.

"The staff there were doing a good job at being sympathetic, but she was going downhill quite rapidly."

While not medically trained, Andrew and Matthew had done a bit more than basic first aid due to their adventurous hobby.

Andrew said: "We got someone to call 999, and we started talking to her, trying to keep her awake.

"We were told the ambulance was going to be about an hour and a half, so we made the decision to go and get the oxygen tanks we have for diving.

"We gave her oxygen for about 10 minutes, before that she was really panicking, but the oxygen really settled her down.

“After a few minutes she really perked up, it could have been a lot worse.

"She was looking very frail when we arrived, and her condition was getting worse.

"We were definitely in the right place at the right time to help her.”

Andrew said his training as a scuba diver since 2001 had been vital and her had taken part in a life savers course.

Matthew, a self-employed plumber and kid's scuba diving instructor, said they are trying to get into contact with the woman, believed to be called Margaret.

He said: "Living in Hemel Hempstead, we're not local but we would like to find out if she was okay.

"She said she didn't have any family nearby except maybe a daughter so we hope she's doing well and being looked after."