Grateful cop thanks guard for life-saving CPR in hospital parking lot
I didn't know he was having a heart attack.
An Amanzimtoti policeman owes his life to a quick-thinking security guard.
Johan Lombard (53) was raced to Kingsway Hospital, suffering from a heart attack on Thursday, 23 March.
“I woke up feeling fine in the morning but then started getting heartburn,” said Johan. His wife said he was perspiring a lot. However, after taking an antacid, his ‘heartburn’ disappeared and he drove to work in Isipingo.
Along the way he started having “massive” chest pains, but managed to make it to work. “I was helped into reception and someone called my boss, Col SK Govender, who drove me to the hospital,” said Johan.
Fortunately for him, security guard Aaron Mngadi (55) of Servest was on duty in the undercover parking garage.
When Col Govender arrived with Johan, Aaron asked if he could assist and helped him into a golf cart.
“The last thing I remember was getting on that golf cart,” said Johan.
“He was conscious and talking. I didn’t know he was having a heart attack,” said Aaron, the Umlazi security guard who has worked at the hospital for five years.
Aaron held onto Johan as he drove him to the hospital, but when the policeman slumped against him, he knew it was time for action or he would lose him.
He started CPR until a male nurse came to the rescue and called emergency. Once they had Johan on a stretcher, they took him inside.
He spent a week in the hospital and is on the road to recovery.
Aaron did a CPR course about four years ago and fortunately for Johan, he kept a calm head.
“This is the first time I have saved someone. I was a bit nervous, as it was someone’s life but I stayed calm and remembered my training,” he said.
Johan got to meet the man who saved his life when the pair were re-introduced at Kingsway Hospital on Monday morning, 3 April. “Aaron, my friend, thank you very much,” said a grateful Johan.
