Ex-ambulance call handler saves collapsed man's life after spotting his dogs

A woman "undoubtedly saved" a stranger's life after he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest while walking his dogs.

Rachel Green was driving to the gym through the village of Sully, Vale of Glamorgan, in December 2025, when she noticed the two unattended Shih-Tzus and pulled over to find 75-year-old Alan Hale collapsed face down on the pavement.

Hale was in cardiac arrest and Green called 999 and began chest compressions.

She administered a single shock with a nearby defibrillator, followed by continued resuscitation until paramedics arrived, and has now been honoured with an award.

"I owe them my life," said Hale as he thanked the strangers who helped him.

Hale was waiting at a bus stop with his dogs, Toffee and Poppy, when he collapsed face first into the pavement.

"I remember leaving the house but that is all I remember," he said.

When Hale regained consciousness he found himself at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on the cardiac ward, where he had four stents fitted.

While driving past, Green recalled thinking: "I thought 'that's weird, why has someone left their dogs there'?"

She pulled over and found Hale in a pool of blood where he had "smashed into the floor" and noticed his breathing was "abnormal", prompting her to call 999.

The ambulance call handler told Green where the nearest defibrillator was - in the apartment complex where Hale lives - which was retrieved by groundskeeper Ryan Harrison.

Mother-of-two Green said other people passing by began to gather, including an off-duty nurse, who helped with the CPR.

"Together, we delivered one shock to Alan, which seemed to restore his heartbeat," she said.

Green, who worked as an ambulance call handler for 13 years had "never ever had to deal with anything face to face" and only had some first aid training.

Later that day, Green rang the hospital where Hale had been taken to find out if he was OK.

To her surprise he was "up in bed and talking", which she described as "insane".

Green, who is now a fitness coach,was on her way to a gym she does not usually train at when she found Hale.

"It's weird, I feel like I was meant to be there," she said.

On reuniting with Hale, Green said she felt "so emotional".

"It was surreal. But I feel like I needed to see him well after what happened."

Hale added: "This lady saved my life."

The Royal Humane Society has recognised Green for her "brave actions", awarding her with a Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificate.

"I'm so glad she is getting an award," Hale said.

While on the cardiac ward Hale said he was told by his consultant that - without the help of the strangers who came to his aid - his chances of survival were 2%.

The pair have stayed in touch via email, while Hale has been working on ticking off one thing from his bucket list each month.

"I'm going to live every day now," he said.

"I've been gallivanting around the country, taking the dogs to Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and the Isle of Wight. I've been to places I've never been before.

"All of my senses are heightened, you know, everything's sharp and in focus. I can smell the scent of the flowers and everything.

"It's always been that I didn't notice before, I notice now. I take it all in."

Emma Wood, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said "every second counts" in a cardiac arrest, adding that Green's actions "undoubtedly saved Alan's life".

She added: "It is a powerful reminder that members of the public can and do make the difference between life and death."