Dustin Hoffman Helps Save Cardiac Arrest Patient in London

The actor waited with him after he collapsed until paramedics arrived


| Tuesday, May 8, 2012


LONDON (AP) — A man who had a cardiac arrest while jogging in London's Hyde Park says his life was saved with help from a famous passer-by — Dustin Hoffman.

Sam Dempster said Tuesday that the actor waited with him after he collapsed on April 27 until paramedics arrived.

On his recovery blog, 27-year-old Dempster thanked medical staff and "my newfound favorite celebrity Dustin Hoffman."

Dempster initially credited Hoffman with having summoned an ambulance, but the London Ambulance Service said someone else had made the emergency call.

Martin Macarthur, one of the paramedics on the scene, said Hoffman described seeing Dempster collapse and froth at the mouth.

"It is essential to get a history of what has happened, and he witnessed the jogger go down. He was the main witness and saw him stagger and go down," Macarthur said. "He stayed on the scene for the whole duration of the resuscitation which was about 15 minutes. He was very concerned."

Macarthur said the 74-year-old actor told medics, "Great job, guys" after they resuscitated Dempster with a defibrillator.

Representatives of the "Tootsie" and "Rain Man" star, who has a home in London, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.



Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


Connect: Have a thought or feedback about this? Add your comment now
Related Topics: News, heart attack, cardiac arrest

What's Your Take? Comment Now ...

Product Connect

1 of 22

Featured Careers & Jobs in EMS


Get JEMS in Your Inbox

 

Fire EMS Blogs


Blogger Browser

 

EMS Airway Clinic

Innovation & Progress

Follow in the footsteps of these inspirational leaders of EMS.
More >

Multimedia Thumb

Worker Rescued From Maryland Parking Garage Collapse

Victim was buried for four hours under a 55,000-pound slab.
Watch It >


Multimedia Thumb

Pa. EMT Dies in the Line of Duty

EMT Tom Gruen was killed in the line of duty.
Watch It >


Multimedia Thumb

Parking Garage Collapses at Maryland Shopping Mall

“Extended extrication” being done for a person pinned under a key section.
Watch It >


Multimedia Thumb

Search Continues for Child in Minnesota Landslide

One child killed, two injured when gravel gives way at popular park.
Watch It >


Multimedia Thumb

Minnesota Park Landslide

One child dead, two injured and a fourth is missing during field trip tragedy.
More >


Multimedia Thumb

Day 6 in Pictures: Ambulance Leadership Forum

The Ambulance Leadership Forum in Warwickshire, England.
More >


Multimedia Thumb

Day 6 in Pictures: Yorkshire Ambulance

Pictures of a recently-delivered Yorkshire Ambulance.
More >


Multimedia Thumb

VividTrac offered by Vivid Medical - EMS Today 2013

VividTrac, affordable high performance video intubation device.
Watch It >


Multimedia Thumb

The AmbuBus®, Bus Stretcher Conversion Kit - EMS Today 2013

AmbuBus®, Bus Stretcher all-hazards preparedness & response tool
Watch It >


Multimedia Thumb

LMA MAD Nasal™

Needle-free intranasal drug delivery.
Watch It >


More Product Videos >