Paris nurse robbed while performing CPR on collapsed man

A nurse performing CPR on a man in cardiac arrest in a Paris street was allegedly robbed while trying to save his life, according to police sources cited by Le Figaro.

The incident took place at 10:17 a.m. Friday near La Chapelle metro station in the 18th arrondissement. The man had collapsed in the street, and the nurse began cardiac massage, leaving his bag a short distance away in the rush to help.

A man allegedly took the nurse’s belongings while he was occupied with the resuscitation. Witnesses reportedly caught and restrained the suspect before handing him to police. The man appeared to be drunk and was placed in deferred custody as part of an investigation assigned to the local investigation service in the 18th arrondissement.

The emergency response continued around the collapsed man. Paris emergency medical services and firefighters took over the external cardiac massage, while a surgical intervention was carried out inside the resuscitation vehicle in the middle of the street. The man’s heart eventually restarted after remaining silent for several minutes.

Police escorted him to Lariboisière Hospital in Paris’s 10th arrondissement. Le Figaro said there were no further details Saturday about his condition.