MIDWIFE Tasmin Williamson has told the Guardian of her attempt to save the life of a pensioner following a road accident yesterday.

The mother of four gave CPR to a 70-year-old man from Barnton whose car had veered off the road in Rudheath and crashed into a gatepost.

She administered resuscitation support for about 15 minutes until the arrival of an ambulance, and the man was taken to Leighton Hospital at Crewe, where he died.

A Cheshire Police spokeswoman said the collision happened at 1.50pm, and involved a VW Polo being driven by the man, who has not been named.

The car collided with a gatepost at the end of a driveway in Middlewich Road, near Northwich Tanning.

Tasmin, 39, from Middlewich, is a qualified midwife and works at Leighton Hospital.

She came upon the collision as she was driving home after going to Northwich Tanning and into Northwich shopping.

“There was a queue of cars and a guy in the road directing traffic,” said Tasmin.

“I didn’t know what was going on, and wondered if there had been a crash.

“As I drove past I saw the car, which had gone into the gate post, and an old man in the front, who didn’t look in a good way.

“I am trained in CPR, and I thought ‘I need to stop’. I ran down the street and started CPR on the man.”

She continued CPR on the pensioner until the arrival of an ambulance.

“It was the first time I have used CPR in real life, and I was very calm because I am used to emergency situations at work,” said Tasmin.

“I was very sad to hear that the man had died, and would like to offer my condolences to his family.

“I did all I could, and there was nothing else I could have done.

“The guy did a great job directing the traffic before the police came, and told me he could not have done what I did – he looked really shaken up.

“Everyone should do a course in CPR, or at least basic first aid, as it can make a difference.”

The Cheshire Police spokeswoman said the man who died is believed to have suffered a medical episode.

Police closed Middlewich Road at its junction with Shipbrook Road following the collision, and the road was reopened at 3.20pm.

The North West Ambulance Service sent a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance to the scene, and Northwich Tanning also offered its condolences to the man’s family.