Gym Employee, Nurse Help Save Man At Wilmington Planet Fitness

WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington police are crediting a Planet Fitness employee and a nurse with helping save a man who collapsed at the gym on Middlesex Avenue in Wilmington Thursday. Ian Palmer, who works at the gym, and a nurse who is a member of the club began administering CPR and used an automated external defibrillator on a 60-year-old man, who had been working out.

Wilmington police Sgt. Chris Ahern and Officer Mike Wandell took over CPR when they arrived, and the man began breathing on his own within a few minutes. Wilmington police said the man had regained consciousness by the time he arrived at the hospital by ambulance.

"We want to commend the Planet Fitness staff member and the nurse for their quick actions which undoubtedly contributed to saving the man’s life," Wilmington police said in a statement.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).