Stranger calls emergency services after woman collapses

Type 1 diabetic Janie Wood, of Keats Avenue, Perdiswell, had no idea her blood sugar levels had dropped very low after a physiotherapy appointment at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

The 48-year-old, who has such a severe condition her blood sugar levels can plunge at any time without warning, needs to have insulin injected every three minutes, 24-hours a day.

But while some people might have thought she was drunk or intoxicated after she was seen staggering down Newtown Road, one man came to her aid and rang for an ambulance.

“When I was at physio my sugars had gone down without me realising,” she said. “I have no warning signs whatsoever and I can’t ask for help. I don’t know what’s happening to me.

“When my sugars go too low, my brain stops functioning properly. I walked up Newtown Road and a few people apparently saw me staggering. “Unfortunately I don’t remember any of it.

“A gentleman had been watching me because he was worried, then I collapsed. He rang the ambulance and ran out to help me.

“It always worries me because I think people think I’m a drunk or on drugs. If I saw somebody behaving how I behave I wouldn’t want to help them so I’m so grateful to them.

“The paramedics came and rushed me off to hospital. I was in a very bad way. I had no signs of life, I was that bad.”

Hospital staff managed to resuscitate Mrs Wood and her diabetic specialist nurse came down to visit her.

She is now back home and recovered, but is still struggling with vertigo, which came on after. “My family and I are so grateful as this can kill me,” she added.

“Thanks to the 999 caller, paramedics, resuscitation team in A&E and anyone else that showed me great kindness that day.

“My handbag was still intact. I would have been an easy target if the wrong people had found me.”

Were you the good samaritan who helped Mrs Wood? Contact the Worcester News on 01905 742249 or e-mail news@ worcesternews.co.uk.