Asda Larne colleagues praised after rallying to help elderly customer who collapsed in store

Tracey Hargey, left, with colleague Grace Gordon

Quick-thinking staff at Asda in Larne have been praised after working together to help an elderly customer who collapsed and struck his head while shopping.

The incident happened near the store’s self-service checkouts when the man suddenly fainted, prompting colleagues to spring into action while an ambulance was called.

Staff rushed to help

Team leader Tracey Hargey, who has worked at Asda Larne for more than 16 years, was among the first to respond after a colleague spotted that something was wrong.

“When one of my colleagues said, ‘I don’t think that man looks alright’, I dropped what I was doing and ran towards him,” Tracey recalled. “I tried to catch him, but he hit his head on the floor when he fell.”

As colleagues contacted the emergency services and created space around the customer to protect his privacy, store first aider Grace Gordon joined Tracey to provide immediate assistance.

The pair checked for further injuries, helped keep the man comfortable and did what they could to keep him calm while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

Family contacted as ambulance arrived

One member of staff recognised the customer’s family and was able to contact his sister, who arrived at the store with her husband at the same time as the ambulance crew.

Reflecting on the incident, Tracey said the response demonstrated how colleagues supported one another under pressure.

“Everyone came together so well to make sure the man was looked after; it was very reassuring. In an anxious situation like that, doing what we could to keep him safe and make things as calm as possible was a priority.”

After being assessed by paramedics at the store, the customer was taken to hospital for further treatment.

A welcome return

There was a happy ending for everyone involved when the man later returned to Asda Larne to continue his normal shopping.

“The good news is, the gentleman has since been back at the store to do his shopping,” Tracey said.

“It’s such a relief to know that he’s doing well. In those moments, it can feel quite nerve-wracking, but we’ll always do what we can to make sure our customers are well cared for.”

Community Champion Gail Caldwell praised the team’s response.

“Well done to Tracey, Grace and everyone who played their part. The whole team really pulled together, so I’d like to send a huge thank you to everyone involved for supporting each other when it counts.”

The incident serves as a reminder of the important role trained first aiders and quick-thinking staff can play while waiting for emergency services, with the team’s calm response helping to ensure the customer received immediate care before being taken to hospital.