Elderly man taken to hospital after suffering cardiac arrest at Sunderland golf course

The Great North Air Ambulance was called to Wearside Golf Club, in Sunderland, at 12.25pm today after a man, aged between 81 and 90, collapsed.

Members of the public gave the man CPR until paramedics arrived.

He was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital in a critical condition.

An air ambulance spokesman said: "The Great North Air Ambulance was called to Wearside Golf Club today when a gentleman golfer collapsed in cardiac arrest.

"Following incredible work by members of the public at the golf club, CPR was initiated and a portable defibrillator was used before road paramedics arrived and began advanced life support. The combined effort restarted the patient's heart and he was then given critical care support and a general anaesthetic by the consultant led team from the Great North Air Ambulance.

"This was to place him in an induced coma, ensure he was as stable as possible and give him the best possible chance of survival.

"He was taken by road to Sunderland Royal Hospital where specialist cardiac care was available.

"None of the advanced care that was delivered by the medical crews would have worked without the efforts of the people at the Golf Club in the first instance and for that we commend them all and we join them in wishing the very best for the patient and his family. "