**Calm Under Pressure: Carmarthen Restaurant Manager’s Heroic Response Saves Diner’s Life**
A quick-thinking restaurant manager in Carmarthen is being hailed as a local hero after his fast actions saved a customer who suffered a cardiac arrest during a meal. The incident took place at The Welsh House, where general manager Jordan Harries and his team demonstrated composure, teamwork and unwavering determination in the face of emergency.
Harries, aged 28, was first alerted when staff informed him that one of the cubicles in the women’s toilets was blocked. Expecting to sort out a routine maintenance issue, he entered – only to discover a woman lying unconscious behind the locked door. Drawing on his instincts, Harries immediately leapt over the cubicle partition to reach the stricken diner.
With precious seconds ticking by, Harries called for an ambulance to be summoned and dispatched a colleague to find a relative who was dining with the woman. His medical training—acquired during a stint working on a COVID-19 ward at Withybush Hospital—guided him as he began to assess the situation. Initially, the diner was still breathing, but unresponsive.
“I got the relative to provide any vital information about existing conditions or allergies, but there were none,” Harries explained. As staff gathered around, the woman stopped breathing. Instantly, Harries began administering CPR before calling on staff to fetch the defibrillator located nearby, at St Catherine’s Walk. The defibrillator was deployed as the team worked together to stabilise the woman until paramedics arrived.
Emergency teams spent nearly an hour attending to the victim before transferring her to hospital for ongoing treatment. The incident, which happened on 5 May, left staff at The Welsh House anxiously waiting for updates on the customer’s recovery.
Weeks later, relief and gratitude swept through the restaurant’s team. News finally reached Harries and his staff thanks to an NHS support representative, who visited the venue to offer well-being advice and acknowledge their efforts. The positive outcome was confirmed when a friend of the woman left a heartfelt message on Google, praising the staff for their life-saving actions.
In a touching follow-up, the woman herself returned to the restaurant to express her thanks in person and deliver a card, uplifting the spirits of everyone involved. “She had suffered a heart attack but survived, and her gratitude meant so much to the team,” Harries said. The episode prompted The Welsh House to arrange additional defibrillator training for all team members, provided free by a local business—a forward-thinking move sparked by their recent experience.
The story resonated beyond the restaurant community, prompting a visit from renowned Welsh opera singer and TV personality Wynne Evans. Evans praised Harries for his courage, presenting him and his team with hospitality tickets to the Wales v Belgium football match as a gesture of appreciation. “Moments like this reveal true character, and Jordan’s composure and sense of duty were outstanding,” Evans commented during the visit.
Colleagues at The Welsh House have echoed these sentiments, describing Harries as an inspiring leader, whose everyday commitment to community wellbeing set a high standard at work and beyond. “His selflessness and energy are a daily source of motivation for us all,” said Alex Budge, the operations manager.
The incident has not only highlighted the critical importance of emergency training in hospitality but has also underscored the value of community spirit. Following Harries’ example, The Welsh House continues to strengthen its first aid preparedness, ensuring staff are ready should a crisis arise in future.
In many ways, this story shines a light on the kind of courage and togetherness that turns bystanders into heroes and workplaces into supportive communities. For Carmarthen’s local residents, the actions taken that day serve as a potent reminder of the difference prompt training, teamwork, and humanity can make in times of need.