A Chippenham man in his 70s collapsed and died on Tuesday at Corsham’s Martingate Centre.

Francis Parsons, of Marlborough Court, was walking near Boots in the shopping centre when he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.

An ambulance was called at 9.55am, and Boots staff performed CPR on Mr Parsons before the emergency crew arrived.

A doctor, paramedics and Wiltshire Air Ambulance arrived at the centre soon after.

The doctor attempted advanced CPR and did get a faint pulse back for a short period, but this was not sustained and Mr Parsons was pronounced dead at 10.36am.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance paramedics praised Boots staff for their rapid response.

Pc Hazel Anderson, who was there, said: “Myself and PCSO Shaun Redmonds were at the scene with the medical staff, trying our best to treat Mr Parsons, but unfortunately he passed away. The whole medical team worked fantastically together and we’d like to praise them for all their efforts.”