A CYCLIST has died despite desperate attempts to save him after he suffered a heart attack while riding on a busy road.

The manager of a fast food restaurant and three off-duty nurses tried to save the life of the man, believed to be in his thirties.

The cyclist, who was riding a racing bike, suddenly fell in the middle of busy traffic on Leigh Broadway at about 9.45am Friday, just outside a Subway fast food restaurant and Bubbles Pet Care.

Subway manager Jason Lockwood, trained in first aid, was one of the first on the scene before emergency services arrived, including the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance which landed by Gypsy Bridge. He was swiftly joined by the off-duty nurses.

Despite their best efforts and those of the emergency services, the man died at the scene.

Mr Lockwood said: “I was getting a coffee for myself inside and saw the guy cycling down the road when, the next thing I knew, he suddenly went down. At first, I thought he had been hit by a car so I legged it out there. He was starting to fit, so I put him in the recovery position, but then the nurses arrived, so I stepped back and let them take over.

“They tried to get a pulse but couldn’t find one, so started CPR, then the ambulance crews arrived and took over, but you could see him going. He really had the best chance he could have but, unfortunately, he didn’t make it.”

He added he was impressed by the speed at which members of the community stepped in to handle the situation.

He said: “I’m not saying it wouldn’t happen anywhere else, but there was a great community spirit. Everyone was out from the shops helping and directing traffic down the side roads almost instantaneously. It was good to see.

“I noticed some of the people watching were saying first aid should be taught in schools as a lesson and I agree. It’s teaching people how to save someone’s life.”

Jill Riches of Lalis Boutique was one of the people who helped to direct traffic.

She said: “When I saw what happened, my first reaction was to stop traffic and the first person I was going to stop was a nurse, so she ran round and I tried to redirect traffic away from the scene.

An ambulance spokesman said: “The East of England Ambulance Service Trust was called to an incident on Broadway, Leigh at 9.50 on Friday, May 1.

“An ambulance, Essex Air Ambulance, a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance officer attended and treated a man in a serious condition.”

A police spokesman added: “The ambulance service called police shortly after 10am. A man in his thirties became unwell near the junction with Victoria Road. Police closed the road between Victoria Road and Seaview Road to allow the air ambulance to attend.”

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