AN 83-YEAR-OLD woman has thanked the quick-thinking actions of Tesco staff in Chard after she collapsed while out shopping.

Pam Richards was out shopping with her husband Pete when she suddenly fell ill and now, via her friend Lyn Marsden, has thanked the staff who rushed to her aid.

It is the second incident in the past two months where employees have rushed to the aid of a customer who has suddenly fallen ill. As reported in the News, Peter Lonton was saved by shoppers and staff after suffering a heart attack in the store’s car park.

Now, via Ms Marsden, Mrs Richards spoke to the News to thank the workers who helped save her.

Ms Marsden said: “Her handwritten note reads, ‘many thanks to Tesco in Chard for their splendid help when I collapsed there last week – I couldn’t have had more care and attention from the manager and assistant, they stayed until the paramedic arrived and stayed with me after’.”

Tracey Bowker, one of the members of staff at Tesco, said: “I was the first aider. I got a call to say a lady, which was obviously Pam, had collapsed in aisle nine. Her legs had just gone from under her.

“We managed to get her in a chair, and her husband carried on shopping.

“She wasn’t critical at that point but we had to move her to somewhere more private.

“We got her a wheelchair and then made her a tea and gave her some free packets of biscuits.

“She was really happy and Pam seemed quite comfortable. She was in the shop about two hours.”

Mr Richards had returned home with the shopping, but when he came back for Pam she had been taken away.

With his friend Lyn, they tried to locate Pam, and assistant manager James Lawrence came to their aid, managing to track her down at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

Mr Lawrence said: “Lyn is in here all the time and we always have a good laugh.

“She was quite concerned and the husband was all over the place.”

Lyn said: “It was all quite traumatic and the first I knew of it was when Pete rang me very confused because he didn’t know where Pam was.

“He had left Tesco with the shopping to take home and couldn’t locate her. So I dashed down to Tesco immediately to find out what was going on and I found James, who was aware of the situation and he immediately used his mobile to tried to locate her for me.

“He must have made six calls to all hospitals, Musgrove, Yeovil, Exeter, Chard etc to no avail but never gave up. They were all understanding and helpful.

“Eventually I found her, probably three hours later, in Musgrove.”

“All very stressed and Pete was especially concerned, not knowing where his wife of 60 plus years was.”

Pam was transferred to Chard Hospital on March 23 so that her husband could visit her easier, and is now in recovery at home.

Mr Lonton suffered a heart attack in the car park at Tesco on February 11 and is also now recovering at home.