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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ryan Carroll

Family of 'heart of gold' pensioner who collapsed outside Glasgow Costa thank 'selfless' first responders

Tributes have been paid to a Glasgow pensioner who has been hailed as an "absolute character" after he collapsed outside a Costa Coffee store in Glasgow.

Donald Davidson's family have thanked the first responders who battled to save the 84-year-old, after he took ill outside the Anniesland branch on Saturday afternoon.

Various passers-by, as well as baristas and employees in a nearby gym, rushed to help the local OAP as they held his hand and performed CPR.

Their heroic actions kept Donald alive long enough to get to hospital, where he sadly passed away a short time later.

Donald with Caroline, who has been hailed the OAP as an 'absolute character' (Supplied)

His next of kin, Caroline Taylor, says knowing her uncle wasn't alone during the horrific incident gave her a lot of comfort.

The 33-year-old told the Record: "It's incredible and so selfless what they did.

"I got a phone call from police on Saturday night to say my uncle had died after having a heart attack on the street.

"They said he didn't have any ID on him and nobody knew who he was - so I had it in my head that he had just collapsed and died, and that was it.

Donald with Caroline's little boy Lucius (Supplied)

"Then my friend alerted me to a post on social media about the incident so I phoned the lady and she explained everything.

"He had taken unwell outside Costa, so somebody went in and got him a chair and someone came out to help. She also went across to the gym to see if anyone with any medical training could help.

"Two boys from outside the gym came over and one was attempting CPR.

"Then a paediatric nurse and an A&E consultant happened to be passing-by and they were helping too - there were so many people there.

"It had initially been my understanding that he had just died on the street - but I have now been told that they actually managed to keep him alive to blue-light him to hospital."

Sadly Donald, who had various health conditions including diabetes and heart problems, later died in hospital - but Caroline says she is forever grateful to those who battled to save his life.

Donald, Caroline and Lucius (Supplied)

The Glasgow nurse said: "The woman told me he was alive and she was talking to him. She said she was with him the whole time, holding his hand and said told me that he had the most beautiful blue eyes.

"That made me feel so comforted, knowing that he wasn't on his own and so many people had been touched and affected by it.

"I was told that someone actually attempted mouth to mouth CPR. Someone was willing to give an old man some breath - which, particularly during Covid, was beautiful to hear."

Donald lived in Anniesland his whole life and died across the road from his home.

The former bus mechanic was a popular figure in the local community and would never be seen without his iconic skip cap.

Caroline and her two-year-old son Lucius were his only family, and she added: "I took the news pretty bad - but knowing that so many people had tried to help him brought me so much comfort.

Donald has been described as a 'lady's man' (Supplied)
Tributes have been paid to Donald Davidson (Supplied)

"He never got married or and any children and doesn't really have any family. I'm his gran's cousin and have been looking after him for the last three-and-a-half years. He doesn't really have anyone else apart from me.

"He loved dancing and used to be a pigeon racer and played bowls.

"He was well known in the area - a proper Glaswegian cheeky character. He had a heart of gold and looked after his mum until she passed away.

"He never married but had loads of girlfriends - he even had a partner right up until just before Covid. He was a lady's man.

Donald with little Lucius (Supplied)

"But most of all, he was my friend - a pure character. He loved my wee boy Lucius as well. He adored him. I think that's what gave him those last few years."

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