THE efforts of quick-thinking bystanders in helping a woman who went into cardiac arrest driving in her car near Tenbury High School have sadly proved in vain after she subsequently died in hospital.

The driver has been named locally as Councillor Gill Farmer, who represented Clifton-on-Teme on the Malvern Hills District Council.

Councillor Farmer's husband, Reg Farmer, himself a former councillor, was in the car with her when she suffered the cardiac arrest.

She died in hospital at 10pm last night.

Councillor Farmer had been resuscitated by ambulance staff with help from quick thinking bystanders before being rushed to hospital in Worcester.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Bromyard Road in Tenbury near to Tenbury High School shortly after 2.30pm on Thursday, October 1.

The Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham with a doctor and critical care paramedic on board, an advanced paramedic and an ambulance crew were sent to the scene.

“When ambulance staff arrived they found members of the public administering excellent CPR to a woman in cardiac arrest,” said a spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance.

“The woman had reportedly been driving when she felt unwell and stopped the car.

“Ambulance staff took over resuscitation efforts, administering advanced life support at the scene. After a while the team managed to restart her heart but her condition was very unstable.

"She was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital by land ambulance; the doctor travelled with the ambulance crew to hospital to continue emergency treatment en route.

"The woman’s condition was said to be critical upon arrival at hospital.”