A serious medical incident occurred this Wednesday near the port of La Graciosa, where a 68-year-old man suffered a cardiac arrest after choking. The coordinated intervention of various parties was crucial for his survival.
The events unfolded around 9:19 AM on the main avenue, near El Mesón restaurant. Eyewitnesses alerted authorities after seeing the man collapse. A Local Police officer, who was on the island providing support, immediately attended the scene.
Initially, the officer applied the Heimlich maneuver, successfully dislodging the obstruction from the man's airways. However, the individual subsequently entered cardiac arrest, prompting the officer to commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) maneuvers.
A nurse who was off-duty actively collaborated with the officer in the resuscitation efforts until specialized teams arrived. Personnel from the Consorcio de Seguridad y Emergencias de Lanzarote joined the intervention, using a semi-automatic external defibrillator (AED) which delivered a shock to the patient.
Medical staff from the La Graciosa Health Center managed to stabilize the man, who regained pulse and breathing. After receiving initial medical assistance, he was transferred by ambulance to prepare for evacuation.
Given the severity of his condition, the man was evacuated by helicopter from the Canary Emergency Service (SUC) to Lanzarote General Hospital. The Local Police secured the perimeter and facilitated the aircraft's landing and takeoff operations.
This operation highlights the importance of the chain of survival, where the prompt response of first responders, resuscitation techniques, and early defibrillator use are vital in cases of cardiac arrest.
