Homeless man saves life of father having heart attack

'Odds of escaping homelessness are about as bleak as walking away from a heart attack,' says daughter

Austin Davis (GoFundMe)

A family in the US has raised thousands of dollars for a homeless man who helped save a father’s life.

George Dakin, who is now 64, was on his way to the ferry port in Hyannis, Massachusettes, when he collapsed in front of Champ Homes — an organisation providing transitional housing for the homeless.

Mr Dakin reportedly had a complete blockage of a coronary artery, a condition commonly called the “widowmaker”. He did not have a pulse for 28 minutes, his daughter Jodi Dakin Loughlin said.

“Several staff members and a few residents worked tirelessly and administered life saving CPR,” she said on a GoFundMe page.

“They did not give up on my dad. Against every odd, my father is alive today without any mental or physical deficit. It truly is a miracle.”

Austin Davis was one of the homeless residents who rushed to keep Mr Dakin alive until the emergency services arrived .

“He is my hero. Austin saved my dad. I feel so blessed to have Austin in my life,” Ms Dakin Loughlin said.

“Austin works 26 hours per week at a hotel in Hyannis and is hoping for a full time schedule with benefits at his year anniversary. He has been there 10 months. He is doing everything right to escape his circumstantial homelessness, but the hurdle is tremendous.”

She added: “Odds of escaping homelessness are about as bleak as walking away from a heart attack.”

Mr Dakin told WFXT-TV he considers 7 August his new birthday.

A fund to help Mr Davis pay for accommodation and a car has raised more than $13,000 (£9,250), exceeding the initial $10,000 (£7,100).