"That's what happened to my Dad. That's what I saw. All I could do was try to save this man's life, but I was scared."
He said he had first noticed the man when he parked his car around 8am. He could see him on the ground, kneeling and holding on to another car for support.
"We were only just opening up. I asked if he wanted an ambulance and he said yes. I ran to the office to get them to phone and when I looked back he'd collapsed."
Mr Nair said he ran back to the man. He had been trained in first aid two years ago but had never had to use it.
"I was quite scared. His eyes were rolling backwards, he had no pulse, wasn't breathing and he was frothing at the mouth."
Mr Nair said even though he was shaking himself he knew he had to do something, so he wiped the man's mouth, cleared his airway and started CPR.
"My Dad passed away in Rotorua Hospital a year ago. That was on my mind. It was almost like reliving that experience."
Mr Nair continued CPR and mouth-to-mouth until the ambulance arrived. He said he performed two rounds and asked for someone else to help out. On the third round the man had started to breathe.
Mr Nair said a couple of hours later the man's son and daughter-in-law brought a cake as a way of saying thanks.
St John Lakes area territorial manager Hilary Morrish-Allen said: "This situation was a very real example of why everyone should do first aid training.
"Training gives you not only the knowledge that you need to help out but the confidence to step up when it really matters.
"The most important thing to remember is that the time between calling the ambulance and us arriving can have a major impact on how well a patient recovers. Everyone, irrespective of age or experience, can be a lifesaver."
In an emergency
•Dial 111 quickly.
•Stay with the patient and stay on the line to the ambulance.
•Follow any instructions you are given.
•Stay calm.
