'Thanks for saving my life'
A father-of-five has thanked a man for saving his life after choking on a burger in east Hull.
Duncan Woods was enjoying the views from King George Dock on New Year's Day when he began to choke on a burger he was eating.
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Gary Jordan, left, and Duncan Woods
The father-of-five, of west Hull, collapsed and fell unconscious.
His wife Lisa rushed to his side and was quickly joined by Gary Jordan, 50, of east Hull, who was about to leave after enjoying a walk with his wife, Maxine, 48.
Gary started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), comprising of mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions, while Maxine consoled Lisa and called an ambulance.
Duncan, 50, was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary where he was placed in an induced coma in intensive care and had a tracheotomy, a surgical procedure that opens up the windpipe, to help him breathe.
After a month in hospital and weeks recovering at home, Duncan is now back on his feet and has met the man who came to his aid.
He said: "Gary saved my life and I can't thank him enough.
"I can't remember much about the day itself at all. He's a real-life super hero."
Duncan was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue in 2000 and had a stroke in 2008, which affected his salivary glands and left him struggling to swallow on a regular basis. He now has to have a liquidised diet.
Gary, a training facilitator at Humber NHS Foundation Trust, is a registered mental health nurse and has basic life support skills.
He said: "Duncan was dying before our eyes and I had to do something. While we were ringing an ambulance, he started to turn blue, his pupils were fixed and dilated and I couldn't get a pulse.
"I had to start CPR straight away. I checked his mouth but there was nothing visible there that was blocking it.
I don't court any publicity around this. What I am very pleased with myself about is I managed to do something good for a chap and save his life.
17 Comments
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by Alf, Springbank, Hull
Sunday, March 21 2010, 10:27AM
“Well done Gary - top man! It's good to hear some positive news for a change.
Just a point - why do the press always have to publish people's ages or whether they are a "father of five" - this really does annoy me and is very prejudicial language, whether it it intened or not. Persoanl descriptions lead to nothing but judgement, criticism and gossip so let's all sue the press for an infringement of liberties, and our "human right" (had to get that one in!) not to be "psychologically bullied" by the masses.
Sort that one out you politically correct clowns!”
by Alf, Springbank, Hull
Sunday, March 21 2010, 10:25AM
“Well done Gary - top man! It's good to hear some positive news for a change.
Just a point - why do the press always have to publish people's ages or whether they are a "father of five" - this really does annoy me and is very prejudicial language, whether it it intened or not. Persoanl descriptions lead to nothing but judgement, criticism and gossip so let's all sue the press for an infringement of liberties, and our "human right" (had to get that one in!) not to be "psychologically bullied" by the masses.
Sort that one out you politically correct clowns!”
by Jamie, Hull
Sunday, March 21 2010, 10:15AM
“I can think of three times I have saved someones life or prevented serious injury.
I didn't realise it entitled me to a story and photo in the paper.
Each time the injured party thanked me when I visited them in the hospital and that was it, I didn't expect a song and dance to be made of it.”
by Tazztell, Tasmania, Australia
Saturday, March 20 2010, 11:56PM
“Ding dong-if it is the same Duncan Woods, I remember him too from school ,and as a bouncer at the Tower nightclub.I asked him once if he enjoyed working as a bouncer; "Not really" he replied "People keep wanting to beat me up ! " A very amusing guy to be sure.Sad to hear of his recent health problems and I hope things improve for him. Well done to Gary for his quick actions .”
by lisa, hull
Saturday, March 20 2010, 7:03PM
“jamie what a retard ur mother knows u well it was my husband who gary saved so if it wasnt for people like him my husband would not be here ,an why do u read this if ur not intresed in the news ,i hope u never have 2 go throughwhat my husband went through so keep ur mouth shut”