On February 18, 2026, a bin lorry driver helped save a man’s life after he collapsed on a busy road in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Michael Dixon, who works for SUEZ, stepped in to perform emergency CPR on a tradesman who had stopped breathing while in his van.
Mr Dixon was working on his usual collection route when his colleague, Kieran, noticed a van causing a disruption in traffic. They found the driver in medical distress, and Mr Dixon followed instructions from the ambulance service to provide chest compressions until paramedics arrived at the scene.
The life-saving intervention happened just one week after Mr Dixon completed a first aid course. This training was provided through a national partnership between his employer and the British Heart Foundation, which has taught emergency skills to over 1,600 staff members since 2024.
Councillor Lydia Hyde from the Southend-on-Sea City Council praised the crew for their courage and quick thinking during the emergency. The city’s waste contract has prioritised this type of training, with more than 70 front-line staff members in the local area already trained in CPR.
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