FERRY staff saved the life of a York man in his 70s when he suffered a heart attack while waiting to board.

The man was preparing to travel from Oban to Mull, off the west coast of Scotland, when he took ill.

His wife dashed into the terminal building, and an ambulance was called.

Two members of the office staff at ferry firm Caledonian MacBrayne, Morag Boyd and Jenna MacPhail, then went to the man's aid. They realised straight away he had probably had a heart attack and managed to get him out of his car and into the recovery position. Another member of staff, pier supervisor Alan MacPhail, Jenna's dad, was also called.

York Press:

The ferry terminal where the incident happened

He and Morag, both trained first aiders and both from Oban, put their training into action.

Morag delivered CPR, while Alan carried out mouth-to-mouth. After a few minutes, the ambulance arrived and paramedics took over, before moving the man to the town's hospital.

He was later transferred to specialist cardiac facilities in Glasgow, where he was described as in a critical condition.

The incident happened on June 17, and he is now making a good recovery, Caledonian MacBrayne said today.

York Press:

The couple were heading to Mull

Allison McDermott, the firm's port manager in Oban, said: “First and foremost I and all my staff here are very pleased to know that the gentleman is making a good recovery.

“I could not be more proud of how our amazing staff here reacted to this difficult event – not only Alan and Morag, who were calm, professional and skilled under pressure, but other staff members including Jenna, who was part of the initial response and comforted the man’s wife during what was a very traumatic event, before accompanying her to the hospital.

“Both paramedics and nursing staff phoned to let me know that the rapid and correct response delivered by Alan and Morag most likely saved the man’s life.

“All of us here at Oban hope he is feeling much better soon and that he makes a full recovery; we have, today, received a letter of thanks from his wife along with a gift for the staff, which was very kind.”