A minicab passenger tried frantically to take the wheel after his driver had a heart attack by the British Library.
After managing to bring the car to a halt at the side of the road, the passenger flagged down a passing ambulance.
The driver is recovering in hospital and his family have been contacted, Addison Lee confirmed.
Gallal Slieman, 30, who works for the Royal Mail, was in the car behind the Addison Lee cab when the incident unfolded at 11.50am.
He said: “A driver had a heart attack while there was a passenger in the taxi.
“At first I thought they were fighting but then I saw the driver was slumped on the wheel, and the other man was trying to stop the car.
“I pulled him out of the window and gave him CPR.”
He added: “Luckily an ambulance was passing. Paramedics shocked his chest.
“The ambulance already had patients but it still took him to the hospital.
“I’m shaking. It was really scary.”
An Addison Lee spokesperson said: “One of our drivers unfortunately suffered a heart attack while on a journey today.
“We have established contact with the driver’s family who are aware that he is in a stable condition and currently recovering in hospital.
“Thankfully, the driver brought the car to a halt safely on the side of the road, ensuring no one was hurt in the incident.
“We are grateful to the passenger who flagged down a passing ambulance before leaving the vehicle by the time our team arrived – we are currently following up with the passenger to check on their well being.
“We will continue to monitor the driver’s condition and provide assistance as needed.”
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 11.51am today to Ossulston Street, NW1, to reports of a person unwell.
“We sent a number of resources to the scene including an incident response officer.
“We treated a man at the scene and took him as a priority to hospital.”
Were you in the cab in the Euston Road? Call Lucas at the news desk on 020 7433 0121.
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