Nick Hamer, an Asda home shopping driver, was completing his rounds in Forest Hall, North Tyneside, when he saw an elderly man with a walking frame fall and bang his head. Nick, who works for Asda in Benton, parked up his van and rushed to help the man, who was drifting in and out of consciousness on one of the hottest days of the year.
Quick assessment and care
He called 999 and helped care for the man until emergency services arrived. "I did a quick assessment on him, checked that he hadn't broken any bones and then got him into the shade straight away and managed to sit him up," said Nick, who joined Asda two years ago after retiring as a warrant officer.
He then used the medical knowledge he gained during 36 years in the RAF to help the man. Nick joined the RAF in 1988 aged 17 and served all over the world including Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
Cooling on a hot day
Nick, 55, added: "Temperatures on that day were in excess of 30 degrees so I used water from the van to dowse him on his front and back and made sure he drank some too. The heat that was coming from his central core was not normal."
"I wrote on the bottles what time I dowsed him, and marked how much water he'd taken in too. We do this on the battlefield and in deserts. Due to the heat he was in and out of consciousness, but I kept talking to him and reassuring him. The old guy was wearing a Newcastle United top and I mentioned I was from Manchester and that I supported Manchester City and we joked about football."
Community spirit
Nick phoned the store to arrange for a second driver to come and take over his deliveries while he stayed with the man until the ambulance arrived and took him to hospital. Nick, who's been nominated for an Asda service superstar award, said: "Helping him was just the right thing to do. I like to go above and beyond for our customers. I get a lot out of my job and I love helping my community."
Store manager Emma Frostick said: "We are very proud of Nick. After serving 36 years in the RAF his lifesaving experience and hands-on approach with accountability will never leave him."
