THE family of a man who had a heart attack and died at a Wrexham supermarket have thanked staff for doing all they could to save him.
Norman James Davenport collapsed suddenly at Tesco in Wrexham and quick thinking staff immediately tannoyed to ask if a doctor was in the store and phoned the emergency services.
A doctor who happened to be shopping at the time rushed to help but Mr Davenport had suffered a massive heart attack and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
His family say that the heart attack ‘came out of the blue’.
Mr Davenport, 63, was the main carer for wife Pam who suffered a brain haemorrhage 29 years ago and is paralysed down her right side.
He was shopping on Sunday, January 31 with his son Paul’s partner Denise Scott and their eight-year-old daughter Eve.
Denise said: “We went our separate ways in the store and then Eve and I heard them calling for a doctor.
“I didn’t think it was going to be him. I was watching them work on him and I didn’t know it was dad.
“Everybody tried so hard. They were extremely good.”
Staff at the supermarket took Eve to customer services to keep her occupied as Denise got in touch with Paul to tell him what had happened.
Mr Davenport’s son Wayne said: “We would like to thank the girl on customer services who straight away asked if there was a doctor in store and called paramedics.
“She used her initiative and took immediate action.”
Pam paid tribute to her “smashing” husband and said that she will cherish the CD he had bought for her.
Mr Davenport, who has lived in Wrexham for 30 years, left behind sons Andrew, Paul and Wayne and also three grandchildren.
The family have received more than 70 sympathy cards and expect many will turn out to pay their respects at the funeral to be held today at Pentrebychan Crematorium at 3pm.
A Tesco spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Davenport’s family and friends.
“We are also very proud of our staff who did all that they could in this thoroughly distressing situation.”
With the help of the Leader the family would like to get in touch with the doctor to thank him for his help. You can call our newsdesk on 01978 340335.