A consultant surgeon with four decades of experience has been instructed by a local council to provide proof that he saved a woman's life, or face a £50 parking penalty.
The Incident on Trinity Street
On September 15, Dr Nick Lagattolia was returning to his parked car in Dorchester, Dorset, after visiting a bank. His routine trip was interrupted when he spotted a woman collapsing from a cardiac arrest on the street. The experienced medic immediately sprang into action, bringing the casualty into the bank where he administered critical treatment for approximately three hours. His intervention is credited with having essentially saved her life.
Council Demands Proof of Good Deed
However, while Dr Lagattolia was focused on the medical emergency, a parking enforcement officer issued a fine against his vehicle. Upon arriving home, the surgeon received an email informing him his parking ticket was invalid and he owed an initial charge of £25, which would double to £50 if not paid promptly.
Dr Lagattolia, a consultant at The Winterbourne Hospital, contacted Dorset Council to explain the extraordinary circumstances. He was taken aback by their response, which he interpreted as disbelief. "I thought, okay, I'll just tell them the story and it will be okay," he said. "I emailed and got in touch with them and they basically responded saying that 'we don't believe you'."
He described the council's stance as showing a lack of goodwill and found the entire situation "aggravating." "I always buy a ticket and frankly it's annoying and aggravating that I'm still being charged, despite helping a woman after suffering a cardiac event," he added.
Bureaucracy Versus Compassion
Expressing his frustration further, Dr Lagattolia noted the delay and poor timing of the council's demand. "The fact that it's come at this time of year is pretty unseasonal from Dorset Council and delayed considering it took place months ago," he stated. "It strikes me that the council are being inconsiderate and inappropriate and it feels like there is no good will from them, given these rather unique circumstances."
In defence of its actions, a spokesperson for Dorset Council stated that requesting proof was part of its standard process. "We always include details on how to make payment, and we require supporting evidence for all appeals because this is a legal process," the spokesperson explained. "Clear documentation is essential to ensure fairness, transparency, and compliance."
The council confirmed it had requested documentary proof directly from the individual to verify his account before considering cancelling the parking fine.
