Woman performs CPR, saves player who collapsed during badminton match

MELAKA - The swift action of a woman providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) saved the life of a player who was believed to have suffered a heart attack during a badminton match in Durian Daun, yesterday.

Kristil Tan Ai Teng, 55, said the incident happened during veteran men’s doubles quarter-finals at about 9 pm involving a 55-year-old player who represented the Kota Bharu Institute of Teacher Education (IPG).

Kristil who was on duty as the technical director of the badminton event in conjunction with the Inter-Staff Games Carnival of the Malaysian IPG heard cries for help at the side of the court.

"I ran towards the man and saw him collapse while sitting against a nearby wall after asking for permission to take a break from the game. I sensed that the man had a heart attack so I immediately performed CPR on him and was helped by a student who was also a volunteer on duty to fetch the automated external defibrillator (AED) from my car," she said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Kristil who is also the Head of Melaka Tengah St John Ambulance Malaysia (SJAM) said another staff from IPG Ipoh also helped to perform CPR on the man while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

The lecturer of the Co-Curriculum Unit at IPG Durian Daun said she was truly grateful that she managed to help the man, adding that she was informed that the man's condition is now stable.

"I feel that the public needs to learn about first aid to help anyone who is faced with the same situation," she said, adding that the first aid method is also important to restore blood flow and sufficient oxygen levels to the lungs, brain and other vital organs and CPR is a basic treatment method that can save lives.

"I also hope that more people will learn the basic techniques of CPR and use this AED and attend the free courses provided by SJAM to increase their knowledge in saving the lives of others," she added. - BERNAMA