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RUSHED to hospital ... Geoff Whitworth
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Taxi driver saved my life
28/ 8/2007
A QUICK-thinking taxi driver saved the life of a father-of-two whose night on the town almost ended in tragedy.
Instead of taking Geoff Whitworth home, the cabbie rushed him to Rochdale Infirmary’s A and E department.
Shortly after he suffered a massive heart attack and ‘died’ before being resuscitated by hospital staff.
After 11 days in the coronary care unit he is now back home and eager to find the Good Samaritan.
How close the father of two was to death can be judged from the fact his heart stopped beating for four minutes
Mr Whitworth, of Queen Street, Littleborough, said: "Fortunately, they managed to jump start it back into action."
His father, Albert, who was given the shock news that his 44-year-old son had suffered a heart attack the following day, said: "As far as I’m concerned, this taxi driver saved his life."
Mr Whitworth Jnr said: "We were in Mango nightclub and I started getting chest pains. I went outside for some fresh air and within minutes was sweating profusely.
"The pain grew worse so I jumped in a taxi in Fleece Street and asked the driver to take me home."
But the driver quickly realised his passenger was obviously unwell.
Mr Whitworth said: "He said I needed to go to A and E. When we arrived there he ran inside and got someone to come out and see to me.
"That was the last I saw of him – I hadn’t even paid him."
Mr Whitworth, who works for a distribution firm, said: "I hadn’t felt too good for a while – I suppose there were warning signs – but I’ve always kept fairly fit.
"I play cricket for Littleborough and used to play football. I certainly wasn’t expecting this at my age."
Praising the staff on the coronary care unit, where he was treated for 11 days, he said: "I'm just taking a box of chocolates and a thank-you card.
"The staff on the Silver Heart unit were amazing, there's is a real labour of love."
And he added: "I don't know what would have happenened if the A&E had been closed and I'd had to be taken to Fairfield or another hospital further away.
"Time is of the essence and I don't think I would have made it."
He now wants to find the man whose quick action saved his life.
All he can remember was that the gentleman was Asian, possibly in his 50s and was driving a dark saloon.
"Idon't know which taxi rank he was from, but I'm determined to find him and say thank-you," said Mr Whitworth.
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30/08/2007 at 02:15
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