Upsetting Incident Today

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I was walking a golden retriever in a suburban neighbourhood (I work as a dog walker) and as I was passing a house where an elderly man was shoveling his driveway when he dropped to the ground. He didn't slip, it was more like he lost consciousness and fell straight back without bracing for the impact. He landed on the back of his head and broke his skull. I heard the crack and thick blood came out of the back of his head and his ears. I've never had an experience like this. The only other person around was a young boy (maybe 15.) I am proud to say that was actually able to keep my wits about me enough to grab my phone and call 911 (they got there in 10 minutes, just prior to which he did regain consciousness.)
But I cannot get the image of the blood draining from him and his body slightly convulsing. I don't know how he is now. I just feel sick about the whole thing.

That is would be quite shocking to watch.

That's awful. I'm so sorry that you had to see that. I hope he's ok and I hope you will be ok too. Sounds like he might've had a seizure.

I still remember seeing a bad car crash. My ability to panic actually turns off when something like this happens. I feel eerily calm, and if anything I may be in danger of not treating the situation with the right sense of urgency. But I pulled over and immediately called 911 (as did several others, as it turned out. )

I pried the door open (it wasn't easy) and the guy was sort of writhing around in pain. and swearing a lot. He couldn't get out either. The emergency responders got there in about 10 minutes and prepared to fly him out.

I think your story trumps mine, with the blood and the sound you had to listen to (in my case I was far enough away that I didn't hear any sound from the accident.) (etc.)

I would say the trauma from it will fade but maybe never as much as you'd like it to. I can still remember way too many of the details, but I think of it less and less often, the more years go by.

Sorry you had to witness that, though it was a blessing for that poor man. It sounds like the area was pretty deserted. If you hadn't been there, who knows how long he might have lain there. He might have died.

If you're visual, you'll never be able to erase those pictures from your mind. Would it help if you could find out what hospital he's in (if they kept him there) and look in on him? It might help ease the bad images if you could impose over them the image of his bandaged (maybe?) and healing head.

I'm sorry to hear about that. Can you go and check on him, or would that make it worse?

Well, maybe you saved his life.

I'd be more worried if you weren't bothered by what you saw. You reacted normally, and quite possibly saved his life.

Something similar happened to me one day, except that it was in a busy street. Old geezer topples backwards with a very audible crack, and people just walked past him like he didn't exist, or worse - stood there giggling.

I've witnessed and had to deal with more than my fair share of medical emergencies. Apparently I am very useful in a crisis, others describe me as cool and quick-thinking. This may be a benefit of Asperger's - enabling me to operate in the here-and-now without emotion or revulsion - but it comes at a cost. Afterwards, when I've had time to properly analyse what has just happened, it isn't uncommon for me to break down in some way and I'll either sob or completely lose my temper. The emotional fall-out is an order of magnitude worse if the afflicted person is a child, or someone I know.

I hope that the old man makes it OK, it must have been a big shock.

At least someone (you) did the right thing and call for medical help for him

_________________
Health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity I am not a jigsaw, I am a free man !

Diagnosed under the DSM5 rules with autism spectrum disorder, under DSM4 psychologist said would have been AS (299.80) but I suspect that I am somewhere between 299.80 and 299.00 (Autism) under DSM4.

I don't think I will follow up on his condition - I am satisfied that I was able to help. I hope he is okay, but honestly, at his age and a fall like that, I don't know.
Pobbles, people actually laughed? That is disturbing.
Thanks for the supportive replies!

What an ordeal.You did all you could,thank goodness you were there for him.I was in a restaurant when an old man was having a heart attack,the ambulance was on its way,but it was so frightening because there really was nothing that could be done till help got there.I was amazed that people just kept eating while this fellow was gasping and in pain.I couldn't eat,the food just sat on my plate.
I also tend to imprint visual pictures of things that bother me,we came upon a turned over semi truck once and the driver was hanging out the cab and his white t-shirt was red with blood.I can never get that image out of my mind.Even when the rescue arrived there was nothing that could save the poor man.

Sounds like you did great and a very good deed. If he regained consciousness, I'd say he's got a good prognosis.

It takes some time to get used to. I remember the first call I had for a cardiac arrest, there was a single blip on the EKG, they pushed a bunch of drugs, but he was dead. It was a little unsettling. It takes a long time of constantly being exposed to that to build up a resistance, and no one truly builds an immunity.

People continued to eat while a man was having a heart attack!?! That is cold.

So I was walking in the same neighbourhood today and I went by the house where he fell. The blood had mostly been cleaned up, but there was a spot on the asphalt that seemed to be stained and there was still blood in the snow. Nobody was around. It was weird being in that space.
Thanks everyone for your comments and sharing your experiences. I know these things happen, but it felt surreal.

I am glad you were there to call 911. You should find out what you can about his situation. He, or his family, may want to thank you.