Weymouth pharmacy colleague Fiona saves customer's life after she stopped breathing

Everyone at our Weymouth store is so proud of their pharmacy colleague Fiona Shearer who helped save the life of a 58-year-old customer who had a stroke and stopped breathing while collecting her regular medication.

Fiona and an off-duty nurse called Heidi who happened to be shopping in the store jumped into action after the lady became unwell and collapsed, while another colleague called 999.

Mum-of-two Fiona, who's worked at the store for four years, said: "The lady kept coming in and out of consciousness. We put the defibrillator on her so it could monitor her. We kept tapping and stroking her face and talking to her to make her come round.

"We kept stimulating her but it kept getting harder and progressively worse and then the paramedics came and took over. The nurse and I were working very well together. I was so grateful that she was there.

"You just don't think about it. It's just something that is happening and you just do it and get on with it. It's in the moment.

"The lady's son came into the store later and he said the doctors had told him that if we hadn't had done what we did she would have died. It turns out that the lady was having a stroke in store which it seems had affected her heart. Thankfully she is out of hospital now and doing really well."

The customer's children sent Fiona a bouquet of flowers and a thank you card to show their appreciation.

Sue Hatchyard, the store's customer trading manager, said: "I don't think you can put into words how proud we are of Fiona.

"She is an amazing colleague. Everything she does is done to the nth degree. She goes above and beyond for every single one of our customers who comes into the pharmacy.

"I thought she was fabulous before this incident, but this just raises her to a whole new level. If is wasn't for her quick thinking this lady could easily have died."

Store manager Linsey McLucas has nominated Fiona for an Asda service superstar award for her actions.

She said: "In the days after the incident we found out that without Fiona's actions that day we wouldn't have had the same outcome."