A transition year student from Dublin is being praised for her swift first action that saved the life of a waste collector.
According to The Mirror, 16-year-old Victoria Williams-Gaine from Shankill gave 39-year-old Florin Popa life-saving CPR when he collapsed.
Victoria had acquired the skills weeks earlier in her school, St Joseph of Cluny in Killiney.
Romanian native Popa, may not have survived if the quick thinking teen hadn’t intervened.
The incident occurred in late March when Victoria and family were preparing to go on holiday. Victoria’s mother Viv spotted the Panda recycling truck outside her home and went out to add rubbish.
Speaking to The Independent she relayed the details:
“When I went out, the truck was outside and I could see the man on the ground.
“I dialed 999 and I shouted up to Victoria. The ambulance man asked if he was breathing and I said no.
“Victoria got down and she started to do CPR on him.”
As an ambulance arrived, Victoria’s actions allowed the paramedics time to set up.
Viv said:
“The ambulance men realised that she knew what she was doing and it allowed them to set up.”
Popa’s heart stopped but emergency services revived him and he was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital.
