A Dublin bin man has shown his gratitude to a 16 year old girl who heroically saved his life after she performed lifesaving CPR on him when he suddenly collapsed outside her home. The man named Mr Popa, a Romanian national returned to meet the young girl named Victoria Williams-Gaine recently to give her flowers and thank her for saving his life.
Mr Popa said he is lucky to be alive after he suddenly collapsed outside Victoria’s home in Shankill on March 23. Mr Popa a Panda Waste employee was resuscitated by a brave Victoria who learned how to administer life-saving CPR in school just weeks before the tragic incident occurred outside her front door.
Mr Popa, fully believes he would would have died if not for Victoria’s quick reactions. The grateful bin man also revealed that his colleagues are fully admiration for Victoria who they now dub a “superstar” after her heroics.
The horrifying incident which happened on March 23 just before Victoria and her family were due to fly to New York, has now become a national story after Victoria’s heroics gained the praise of everyone on social media.
Speaking to reporters Victoria’s mother Viv Gaine recalled the day in question and explained that she saw the bin lorry outside the house at around 9am and went out, hoping to empty some bits of rubbish before the workers collected the bins.
Mrs Gaine said: “When I went out, the truck was outside and I could see the man on the ground. “I dialled 999 and I shouted up to Victoria. The ambulance man asked if he was breathing and I said no.”Victoria got down and she started to do CPR on him.”
Whilst a brave Victoria relentlessly worked to save Mr Popa’s life paramedics arrived a short time later, however Victoria’s actions were not finished as the medics saw she was competently administering the lifesaving procedure, they asked her to continue.
Mrs Gaine further explained: “The ambulance men realised that she knew what she was doing and it allowed them to set up,.” “A second ambulance soon arrived and Mr Popa was placed into it.”
The proud mother also sad that both she and Victoria could hear the medics saying that he had no pulse, before confirming that it had returned. Within 30 minutes, Mr Popa was transferred to St Vincent’s Hospital on Merrion Road.
Mrs Gaine said that her daughter became very upset when she realised what a close call it was. Mrs Gaine said she believes the crucial factor was that her daughter had learned CPR in her school St Joseph of Cluny, in Killiney.
Meanwhile Panda have donated a potentially life saving defibrillator to Victoria’s school after her brave heroics.