Hotel receptionist saves life after holidaymaker has a heart attack in Lanzarote
A quick-thinking employee and the guidance of the 112 emergency service were crucial in reviving a 60-year-old man who suffered a cardiac arrest at a tourist complex in Tinajo, Lanzarote.
The incident happened on 19th August when the hotel receptionist discovered the guest unconscious in his room and immediately called the 112 emergency number.
During the call, a nurse guided the worker through the steps of basic resuscitation, including chest compressions, over the phone until medical help arrived.
At the same time, Tinajo’s Local Police were dispatched to the complex with a semi-automatic defibrillator (DESA), which officers used alongside the first responders to deliver several shocks. Combined with advanced resuscitation techniques carried out by medical teams, these actions managed to restore the man’s heartbeat.
Paramedics stabilised the patient before transferring him to the Doctor José Molina Orosa Hospital in Arrecife, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
Alexandre Hernández, the SUC coordinating nurse, highlighted the vital role played by the receptionist and first responders. He stressed that in cardiac arrests, every second counts, and the calm and rapid reaction of those on the scene is often the difference between life and death.
He also emphasised the importance of teleassistance, where trained emergency staff guide callers through life-saving steps until medical teams arrive. “Quick action not only increases survival chances but also helps reduce possible long-term complications,” Hernández explained.
Semi-automatic defibrillators like the one used in Tinajo are designed to analyse and re-establish the heart rhythm in cases of cardiac arrest. This case once again shows how the presence of these devices, combined with prompt action and the support of the 112 emergency service, can save lives.
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