FRANTIC attempts were made to resuscitate a man who fell ill at the wheel of his car in Christchurch yesterday afternoon.

The 75-year-old died after the incident in Somerford Road, in which his car collided with two others.

Police closed the road at Purewell and the entrance to Southey Road, while paramedics and passers-by helped to work on the elderly man.

The incident took place outside Brandon Tool Hire.

One staff member said: “I was stood outside and two women rushed up and asked for help.

“There were three cars involved – two of them had been in a traffic jam when the elderly man’s car went into the back of them.

“I think he had a heart attack. I found a pulse and thought he was okay and then he started gasping.

“Another man who was in the Army came up and started doing mouth to mouth and I started doing chest compressions.

“His partner then arrived and she carried on doing the compressions.

“The paramedics got there and they must have worked on him for 10-15 minutes.”

The man added: “His wife was in the car with him and I think she must have gone into shock.

“I think someone said they had come from dropping some things off at the tip when it happened.”

The elderly man was driving a silver Honda Jazz.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said the cause of death was under investigation but it is believed he may have fallen ill at the wheel.

The female driver of the red Ford KA was also taken to hospital as a result of the collision, but this was only as a precaution.

The man’s next of kin have been informed.

The coroner has also been notified.

Police opened the road at 2.45pm.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident number 275/24.