To be surprised nobody helped me?

Really sorry that happened to you, did they find out why you were in vtach. Hopefully they explained what caused it and corrected the underlying problem. People are not supposed to go into vtach, so make sure you've been given an adequate explanation.

If it happens again (it shouldn't if they've corrected the cause) dial 999 and sit down, wherever you are, don't put any more strain on your heart by trying to walk.

Absoloutely! It’s always stuck in my thoughts too ☹️

@DarkLion I also once read it gets more people’s attention to shout fire instead of help

I must have read the same article! At the time, I thought it was in relation to being raped or the prospect of that. I have thought of that over the years when I've been walking home late and thinking- yell fire, not help. Terrible to even have to think that really.

Most people would not help a spice user to sit down or conjure them water from the aether no…

I'm so sorry that happened to you and no-one helped. Xxx

If you were sick plus it was dark I would be scared to approach you in case you were drunk. If you were asking for help it would be different.
I also wouldn’t notice you from my living room. We have a lot of dog walkers so I don’t pay much attention on someone outside.

I've always found this phenomenon interesting and remember reading about Kitt Genovese for the first time. A brief precis is here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/bystander-effect

Asking for help is a very good way to galvanise people into action.

I hope you're okay now op?

I had a similar thing happen to me @Mintybreath and I didn't ask for help either. I was just panicking as to how on earth I would get home! One woman paused as she passed me, like she wanted to help, but wasn't sure, then carried on walking, as I didn't say anything. I completely understand!

Btw I suspect people thought we were drunk!

Glad you are feeling better now 🌻:)

I am trying to imagine the situation and what I would have done.
I would have asked if you needed help if I had seen you. I have done in the past when I have seen people who looked like they neede d help.
But if it was dark and i was driving on my own then I may not have stopped, or even seen you. Especially if I had children in the car.
If it was near a busy street with bars then I might have assumed you were drunk.
If it was on my quiet suburban residential street then I think people would have for sure asked if you were ok. But in a busy area people may assume you are on drugs or drunk, faking it as part of a scam to rob someone, or crazy.
The other thing is that not everyone is a nice person and would stop no matter. Some people are just horrible.

Yes my dad has epilepsy and said in the past when he has needed help that people have thought he was drunk from how his seizures come on. I’m actually a nurse and I learnt that if you’re female, your odds of help in public are less (especially when it comes to receiving cpr) as people fear being accused of things. I also once read it gets more people’s attention to shout fire instead of help as apparently studies showed people get worried if they hear help being shouted so are less likely to intervene! Scary really ☹️

I may have missed it but you don’t mention the area/part of the country you live in and I think it makes a difference.
I live in a small city and people do tend to help each other, a drunk chap literally fell on his back in the road the other day and couldn’t get to his feet due to his large rucksack.
Myself and another lady went to help him and a car stopped as well to give us a hand. We knew he was under the influence due to the large bottle of mostly empty cider he was clutching, once he was back on his feet he thanked us and continued on his way.
Maybe its just the area I live in because it’s not a massive bustling place people have more time/awareness.
It must have been such a scary experience for you

I do stop to assist, but mainly is folk on drugs tbh when they’re nearly passed out or stumbling into roads - so an obvious danger to themselves and/or others. I’m amazed at the number of people blind to them though and really annoyed once at shop staff just ignoring a request for an ambulance for ages.
One guy thanked me for helping his girlfriend particularly as apparently most people don’t give them the time of day - clearly true as she collapsed and was unconscious in the middle of the pavement in the middle of the day in front of many people so despite her apparent situation I was surprised to see so many ignore another person.
I’m less wary in a sense of someone in that extreme state than an average appearing person looking a bit ill. I stopped my car as a youngster to see if this 60ish old gentleman staggering into walls needed help and he was suddenly ok and clearly didn’t need the help I would have been prepared to give him - I was quite scared but had stopped a bit away and could drive off in time. I’ve been shouted to keep my nose out and a relative was bitten once trying to help a lady too.
Overall I’m more careful with people who aren’t very, very clearly in bother and incapable of sorting it themselves. I think, sadly, I may have assumed you were drunk but if walking as well in between the sickness, then I may have worried you’d get aggressive - I like to think I’d have shouted over at least at a safe to me distance but can’t be sure, and I’m sorry I’m that person like so many others.
Try and ask if it happens again - I think many are just a bit wary of danger but also of inviting an unpleasant response. If you’re asking then someone may do something if only call for help from a distance from you.

I was in a town centre one day and a woman collapsed in front of me, hitting her head very hard on the stone sill of a window as she fell. Obviously I stopped and knelt down by her and called 999. I asked a lady close by to stop and help me care for her. She refused. Still don't understand that.

Could have been any number of reasons, but I will tell you why I wouldn’t have stopped to help (I’m not the woman you asked) - I faint at the sight of blood or certain other medical things, so generally in an emergency the most helpful thing I can do is move away quickly so there’s not another person to worry about / take attention from the person who actually needs it.

If there was nobody else around I would call an ambulance, but couldn’t actually do anything else to help.

9pm at night is very dark, and if you were lurching they would have assumed drink or drugs, probably. It's not nice, but then, people intoxicated to that degree can be violent, which explains why many women kept away. And men may not have wanted people to get the wrong idea and accuse them of harming you. Sad to say, it sounds like one of those situations where everyone was hoping someone more equipped to handle it would come along soon. It doesn't mean the world is filled with horrible people who don't care. It was just really unfortunate.

I'm sorry you went through that. I'm glad you're alright. Obviously you were in a haze in the moment and there's nothing you can do about it now, but in future, try to get inside somewhere. A late night pharmacy, supermarket, restaurant . . . somewhere that's open, and quiet enough that you won't be overlooked in the crowd. Try to ask for help, and if you can't get the words out, just sit down. Even on the floor. People are more likely to notice something's wrong and call for help if you're in "their" space, and your behaviour is non-threatening. I know it's hard to think straight in the moment, but you want to be inside somewhere. In the warm, with others around you. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how badly things could have gone if you'd passed out in the street. Take care of yourself x

I fell in the middle of the road a few years ago and hurt my hand and my dog's lead got dropped. A lovely lady elderly lady rescued my dog from the middle of the road and checked I was ok. I was more embarrassed than anything !

I would have helped you op ! I always seem to be finding distressed people, elderly people who have fallen, confused older people etc. Always try to help if I can. I'm sorry you felt people didn't care.

My mum fell in the street a few years ago someone did help her up. That was in the quiet country area I now live in, not in London. Maybe location has something to do with it. Or time of day.

Anyway, I hope you are OK now.

I'm so sorry. Very hard.

When I was about 21 I had four wisdom teeth out and my boyfriend of the time was due to collect me from the dentist. He didn't and I had to take a train home with my case (I was travelling back from London before the dental work). On the train my pain killer wore off and I was I in such pain I was crying. I would say I didn't really look 21, looked younger, and no one asked me if I was OK.

It's sad that people do not help each other.

I know many years ago I had also been in position of offering help to people who needed it; and did not.

So, I am not sure what the answer is!

But I will bare this in mind in future.

Sorry to hear that Mintybreath. It must have been a very frightening experience for you. I hope you’re keeping well now.

I would and have stopped to offer help to anyone who appeared to be in difficulty. But sadly I think these days people are more likely to pull their phone out and start filming anything untoward than step forward to help.

I tripped and fell a few months ago while walking the dog. I was on the pavement alongside a busy road and multiple cars passed and nobody stopped while I was sprawled on the pavement clinging to the dog lead. I’m in my 70’s and due to arthritis was unable to get myself upright till I’d crawled to a nearby lamppost to hold onto. I felt shaken up and both my knees were bleeding and trousers torn. But I felt invisible.

That's good to hear.
My elderly dad tripped up the other week and hit his face on the pavement. A nice woman driving by stopped and asked if he wanted a lift home. That restored my faith in humanity too!

Sorry for your experience, OP.

It sounds like a truly awful experience and I’m glad you are OK now.

I find it strange because I’m constantly asked if I need help when I’m just trying to get on with my life, at times people decide to “help” me when I don’t want or need help at all and it’s tiring and frustrating. All I’m doing is normal, everyday things in a wheelchair and I don’t look unwell or if I’m having any difficulty with anything, so I can’t understand why a person who is obviously sick wouldn’t get asked if they need help.

Do ask for help another time, it sounds so frightening.

I was in a town centre one day and a woman collapsed in front of me, hitting her head very hard on the stone sill of a window as she fell. Obviously I stopped and knelt down by her and called 999. I asked a lady close by to stop and help me care for her. She refused. Still don't understand that.

My faith was restored a moment later. The woman had no hair and had been wearing a wig which had become dislodged as she fell. A man came out of a takeaway over the road, took his jumper and gently placed it over the top of her head. It was such a humane thing to do. There are some good people about.

I would have helped you. Poor you - you must have been so scared. Hope you’re ok now

As others have said it would have been hard to really know what you were 'on' I know you weren't

I have stopped a few times to ask people if they need help. I've even stopped my car to pick up a few people struggling with groceries - women only and without my children. One time in a group event - where we all knew each other - someone collapsed, I was the only one to start assisting. Most just didn't know what to od.

Next time though ask. I am only imagine in the time though you were just focused on getting home which is understandable. But I think a lot of people would have helped.

I slipped on black ice on a road walking to work last week and couldn’t move. I had so many wonderful people help from the 5/6 people that sat around me to protect me in the road giving me coats and blankets to warning cars I was there. Ambulance came in an hour and they were still there looking after me. Restored my faith in humanity.