A man working for a commercial vehicle recovery service tragically died on Brean beach during Sunday (April 22nd) after suffering a heart attack while attempting to retrieve a stranded Mercedes car from the mud.
An air ambulance also flew in to help him, as pictured here, and several Burnham-On-Sea Coastguards, paramedics, first aiders and a nurse attempted to revive the man by giving him CPR after he collapsed during the car recovery operation.
It comes after a Mercedes hire car had initially become stuck on Brean beach on Saturday evening (April 21st) after being driven half a mile down the beach near Brean Down.
Crews were unable to winch the car to safety on Saturday and therefore on Sunday a Bridgwater-based vehicle recovery company attempted to retrieve the vehicle on behalf of the hire car firm.
Very sadly, one of the workers collapsed during the work. The Great Western Air Ambulance was called to the beach, as pictured here, along with three land ambulances.
A Burnham-On-Sea Coastguard spokesman said: “The team were tasked to provide safety cover for a stranded car recovery. After the car had become stranded on Saturday night and a tide had been over it, the team were asked to provide a safety cordon for the recovery crew to safely recover the car.”
“When we arrived on scene there was a large number of people gathering round the vehicle to have a look. We cleared the area and kept the curious onlookers at a safe distance so the recovery crew could set about retrieving the vehicle from its muddy confines.”
“As this was happening a medical emergency unfolded in front of us. A person had collapsed with a suspected heart attack. The team mobilised quickly to the person and initiated CPR quickly. Defibs were deployed from nearby including the Brean Beach wardens and from the National Trust Cafe.”
“These were used along with chest compressions, while an Ambulance First Responder arrived on scene and administered oxygen. Not long after the responders arrival, an ambulance and the air ambulance also arrived on scene.”
“Despite the huge effort from everyone, including the off duty nurse and an off duty responder who stepped in to help, the person didn’t recover.”
“Our thoughts are with his family and all concerned. This was a multi-agency incident that showed the dedication of all involved.”
The recovery of the Mercedes was later completed on Sunday, as pictured below.
Pictured: The Mercedes car was eventually taken away on Sunday evening
