A MANAGER of a Penarth store has praised his staff for saving the life of a man who was found blue and motionless in the store car park.

Neil Haggett has hailed the quick actions of his team in saving the man in his 50s who was "10 to 15 minutes from dying" in the Tesco car park on Terra Nova Way.

The team had received a call from a concerned woman who said her husband had not come home after going shopping at 1pm on Thursday, June 30.

One staff member, Nathan Edwards, took the call and mobilised a search of the car park with his colleagues Jon Huxtable, Selma Abdi and Abby Hayes.

Just after 8pm, they found the man slumped in the front seat of his Rover, blue in colour and not breathing.

Mr Edwards said: "I got the call and quickly got the team to search the toilets and the car park.

"We found him lying motionless in the seat of his car and making a strange screeching sound.

"We tried tapping on the window and tried to wake him up but he was unresponsive."

Mr Edwards called the emergency services and was instructed to get him out of the car.

The store has recently had a defibrillator installed on the site and they were able to use this to save the man's life.

The device instructed them to begin CPR on the man and three or four minutes later he came round, just as the paramedics turned up.

Mr Edwards said: "It was a horrifying experience and the noise he was making was really scary.

"But the first aiders were fantastic and we are so happy to have the defibrillator which took the decision away from us.

"It was an unbelievable feeling when he came round. It was such a big weight lifted off my shoulders. I never want to go through that again."

His manager, Mr Haggett praised his and the team's work.

He said: "A massive well done to Nathan Edwards, Jon Huxtable, Selma Abdi and Abby Hayes for their quick actions on the night.

"Selma, Abby and Jon had only finished their first aid training on the day before the incident.

"Paramedics told us that had he been there for 10 to 15 minutes longer he probably would not have survived.

"We are very grateful that we have the defibrillator and through the quick actions of our team at Penarth we were able to resuscitate the gentleman and save his life."

The Tesco team have asked the man to get in touch with them so they can check that he is okay.

l If you are the man, or know the man, who was saved by Tesco staff, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with the Penarth Times