Passers-by save Charlie's life

When Charlie Brown was short of groceries last Friday he didn’t expect a quick trip to the supermarket would leave him owing his life to the goodwill of strangers.

But what should have been an uneventful trip to the shops ended with the 94-year-old fighting for his life just five metres from his front door after he suffered a heart attack while carrying his groceries home.

Mr Brown probably wouldn’t have lived to tell his tale if not for the generosity of two passers-by, who saw Mr Brown collapse and performed life-saving CPR before phoning an ambulance.

Mr Brown, who lives in Albany’s Masonic village, doesn’t know who his lifesavers were, but he wants to say thank you.

After two blood transfusions and two days recuperation at Albany Hospital, Mr Brown contacted the Albany Advertiser on his return home in the hope he could reach out to his anonymous lifesavers.

“I have no idea who they were, but I just want to say thank you,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that couple.”

Mr Brown’s neighbour Pat Matowitz, 78, witnessed the drama unfold and said she also wanted to thank the anonymous resuscitators.

“They were so lovely. I’d say they were in their mid-30s, a man and a lady,” she said.

“The lady did the CPR and she knew exactly what she was doing, two puffs and a gentle push, which the ambulance officer said was perfect.

“Charlie is very popular in the village. Everyone here would love to say thank you to that couple for saving our 8Charlie.”

Got a story? Email katherine.mountain@albanyadvertiser.com