Quick-thinking delivery driver Howard rescues diabetic customer who collapsed at home
Quick-thinking home shopping driver Howard Cox from our Bridgend store sprang into action when a diabetic customer fell unconscious due to extremely low blood sugar levels.
RAF veteran Howard, who joined Asda as a driver 18 months ago, suspected something was wrong when he didn't get an answer when he went to deliver his groceries.
After repeatedly ringing the bell and knocking on the door he phoned the contact number he had for the customer which turned out to be the gentleman's sister.
She told him that her brother, who had a history of health conditions, should be in so Howard looked through a window and saw a man laying on a sofa. He knocked again, but still no answer.
The back door was unlocked so Howard entered the property and realised that the customer, who was in his mid to late 50s, was unconscious.
Howard had a 44-year career as an aviation engineer which included 10 years in the RAF, and did battlefield first aid training while he was in the air force.
He tried to rouse him while the man's sister phoned for an ambulance.
Howard said: "I tried to shake him and speak to him but there was nothing. Then as I continued to do it his eyes flickered a bit and he started to moan. I then put him in the recovery position.
"His sister told me he was diabetic and that he looked like he was in hypoglycaemic shock (extremely low blood sugar levels).
"While I was on the phone to a 999 call handler explaining what was going on he came around, which was such a relief.
"He had some sort of battery powered unit plugged into his stomach with a button on it and within 30 seconds he was standing up and walking around! In the end I gave him the phone to the call handler and between us all we called the ambulance down.
"After a while he seemed to be completely back to normal and he even offered to make me a cup of tea. I stayed with him for a bit to make sure he was okay.
"He said that if I hadn't brought him back to consciousness when I did he may have never come round. He was really pleased and really grateful.
"If I hadn't called when I did the consequences could have been fatal. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time – any of our drivers would have done the same though."
The store's customer trading manager Debbie Davies, who nominated Howard for an Asda service superstar award, said the whole store was proud of him.
She said: "What Howard did was fantastic. If he hadn't turned up when he did the outcome could have been a lot worse. it doesn't bear thinking about.
"Howard is an absolute gentleman and this act of kindness shows how wonderful he is. He's a real asset to our team."