Heartwarming Help: Asda Colleagues Drive Injured Shopper to Hospital

Kindness shone brightly recently when two dedicated colleagues at Asda Bangor went above and beyond to assist an elderly customer in distress, demonstrating true community spirit. Katherine Thompson and Leah Stevenson dropped everything to help a shopper who fainted in the store, sustaining injuries to her head and a suspected broken ankle.

The duo, both trained first aiders, rushed to the scene at the tills. Katherine recounted, “The first thing we noticed was that her head was bleeding as she’d hit it when she fainted, so that was our first priority.” After ensuring the customer had come round, they provided essential first aid, cooled her down, and immediately called for an ambulance, concerned about the head injury. They also suspected a broken ankle due to the visible pain. An off-duty paramedic, who happened to be shopping, provided invaluable assistance, helping with a triage call to emergency services while Katherine and Leah set up screens for privacy and offered pillows for comfort.

Faced with a potential delay for an ambulance, Katherine and Leah made the remarkable decision to take matters into their own hands. After contacting the store manager for approval, Leah, who drives, carefully wheeled the customer to her car. Katherine explained, “The lady was in quite a bit of pain and there was going to be a bit of a wait for an ambulance, so we phoned the store manager to see if we could take her on ourselves.”

Their commitment didn't end there; they drove the customer directly to the hospital and stayed with her until she was safely transferred into the care of medical staff. Katherine later learned from a friend of the customer that her ankle was indeed broken. Reflecting on the incident, Katherine, who has nearly 20 years at Asda Bangor, shared, “It was a difficult situation, but I’m glad Leah and I were there to help her when she needed it. Being a first aider is a really important role.”

Asda Bangor Community Champion Ami Craig praised the pair’s actions: “Katherine and Leah did a fantastic job and showed wonderful warmth and kindness to this lady in her time of need. We’re very proud of them, and as a team, send our best wishes to the customer for a speedy recovery.” This heartwarming story serves as a reminder of the difference everyday heroes can make in our community.