MELAKA: A group of people, comprising odd-job labourers and single mothers, will get special Deepavali gifts from the state government, after they helped to resuscitate an 18-year-old teenager in an incident in Alor Gajah on Wednesday (Oct 23).

State Health and Anti-Drug Low Chee Leong said the teenager could have lost her life when she suddenly collapsed and fainted on the five-foot way along a row of shophouses at Taman Sungai Petai Bahagia.

“I was told the lass wasn’t breathing for a while, but cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed by a few saved her, ” he said on Thursday (Oct 24).

Low said the girl was then rushed to Alor Gajah Hospital in an ambulance and was now in a stable condition.

“I am touched that the group had the knowledge on how to effectively perform CPR and resuscitate the teenager, ” he said, adding that the gifts were meant to be a token of appreciation from the state government.

The socially-disadvantaged group were gathered at a restaurant to receive Deepavali assistance from a businessman on Oct 23, when the incident occurred at about 2.45pm.