A man who drove through an intersection slumped over the steering wheel unconscious is still in hospital but alive thanks to the quick work of emergency personnel.

The man, who is in his sixties, was still in hospital Wednesday after RCMP and other emergency workers performed CPR to bring back a pulse after the man passed out in his truck.

Police were called after the truck was spotted coasting through a stop sign at slow speed at the intersection of Bellamy Road and Phelps Avenue in Langford at about 11 a.m. on Monday. The truck ended up in a ditch and witnesses said the driver appeared to be slumped over the wheel.

RCMP arrived in a matter of minutes after witnesses called 911. They pulled the man from the truck. He was not breathing and had no pulse.

RCMP members Const. Carmen Hill and Cpl. Raj Sandhu performed CPR on the man for seven minutes until Langford Fire Department and B.C. Ambulance arrived. Paramedics used a defibrillator to start the man's heart. He was taken to hospital still unconscious and had gone about 20 minutes with no pulse.

kwells@goldstreamgazette.com