Service station tragedy - Grandfather dies in front of grandson

Photo / file

A man died in front of his young grandson on a busy service station forecourt despite frantic efforts of station staff to save him.

The Saturday afternoon tragedy unfolded when the 75 year-old man pulled up at the busy Z Petrol Station in Te Irirangi Drive in South Auckland yesterday afternoon.

Police say the man had travelled from Northland and had just been visiting family down the road in Flat Bush.

Staff member Bhagwant Singh was behind the till when the man's 9 year-old grandson ran inside asking for help. Staff believed the man had suffered a heart attack.

"He was in his car so we laid him out by the flowers and performed CPR until the ambulance came. We tried out best, but we couldn't save him."

Staff tried to close the station while the emergency was unfolding, but customers kept pulling up, Singh said.

Senior Sergeant Jeremy Field praised service station staff for their efforts to resuscitate the stricken driver.

"It was good of the staff at the Service Station to assist with CPR," he said.

"The owner closed the station for a short period of time so staff could get counselling."

Z communications manager Jonathan Hill said it was a difficult time for staff at the station who swung into action and did their best to save the elderly driver.

Staff held first aid certificates and administered CPR until emergency services arrived.

"It's an incredibly sad time and our thoughts are with the young boy and his family," he said.

All staff would be offered counselling in the wake of the forecourt death, he said.

Police expected to name the deceased later today and the death has been referred to the coroner.