Hero police officers save HGV driver who had heart attack at the wheel

Hero police officers helped save the life of a man when he suffered a heart attack at the wheel of his HGV on the motorway.
PC Chris Pixton and PC Patrick Geoghegan-Shaw pictured with Shane SharkeyPC Chris Pixton and PC Patrick Geoghegan-Shaw pictured with Shane Sharkey
PC Chris Pixton and PC Patrick Geoghegan-Shaw pictured with Shane Sharkey

Shane Sharkey was driving down the M60 when he suffered a cardiac arrest which led to his lorry crashing into the central reservation.

Luckily, PC Chris Pixton and PC Patrick Geoghegan-Shaw came across Mr Sharkey whilst on shift travelling along the motorway.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Moments earlier he had suffered the cardiac arrest and had lost control of his HGV which crashed into the concrete central reservation. The crash caused extensive damage to the vehicle and resulted in its contents being emptied across both carriageways.

Without hesitation, the two Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers stopped and ran over to the collision.

PC Pixton pulled Mr Sharkey, who was unresponsive, out of the HGV which was now smoking. PC Pixton, alongside a member of the public with first aid training who bravely came to assist, tried to revive Mr Sharkey using the de-fib in the officers possession and performed CPR for at least 10 minutes.

PC Geoghegan-Shaw helped give first aid to the victim and get witness details on the incident until paramedics arrived to take over medical care. Mr Starkey was taken to Salford Royal Hospital in a critical condition but he is now making a steady recovery.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A third GMP officer, PC Nicola Greenhalgh, part of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, attended the hospital to get updates on the victim. She also supported the victim’s partner who due to COVID-19 had to attend the hospital alone.

Superintendent Richard Timson, GMP’s South Manchester District Commander, described actions of the officers as a " true act of bravery".

He said: "Both officers acted swiftly and their quick thinking saved the driver of the HGV.

"PC Pixton has recently completed police medical training and PC Geoghegan-Shaw is currently part-way through the course. This incident highlights the importance of the skills officers learn on this course and I’m glad that they were both able to, in a high-pressured situation, but into practise what they had learnt. I am proud of courage and professionalism they displayed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I would also like to thank the member of the public who also demonstrated great courage in assisting with giving Mr Sharkey first aid.

"I am pleased to hear that Mr Sharkey is making a recovery with the support of his partner Debra who wrote a letter of thanks to all the officers involved expressing her gratitude for their actions. "

PC Chris Pixton, said: "I'm delighted that Shane is now on the road to recovery with the support of his partner.

"Responding to the incident truly was a team effort between the brave members of public and all the emergency services, who came together to ensure the scene was made safe and administer life-saving care. This is no doubt one of those defining moments in my job that will stay with me and I'm thankful that we could make a difference.

"I am also thankful for the additional training of the medic role, as without it I wouldn't have been able to act as I did, or have been in possession of the kit that I had."

Related topics: