Safety Bus Team help save life of man in Cardiff city centre

Staff on our Safety Bus have helped save the life of a man in cardiac arrest in Cardiff city centre.

The Safety Bus happened to be nearby when a call came into the control room for assistance during the early hours of Saturday, May 30.

A 36-year-old man has been found collapsed and unresponsive on St Mary Street near the Clayton Hotel.

A police officer commenced CPR, and two police student volunteers applied a defibrillator which is kept on the bus, until an ambulance arrived.

Fortunately, the man became responsive, started talking, and was taken to hospital.

The Cardiff Safety Buses patrol the city centre on Wednesday nights during academic semesters, and on Friday and Saturday nights year-round.

They are operated by officers and volunteers to help anyone who may be vulnerable and are not restricted solely to students.

It does this by:

• Containing essential medical supplies including a defibrillator
• Patrolling the night-time economy areas within Cardiff and during large events
• Helping vulnerable people that need help.

The initiative has helped ensure thousands of people who have found themselves in a vulnerable position or where their personal safety was at risk, have been taken to their homes or another place of safety, such as the Alcohol Treatment Centre.

Since September 2021, more than 3,000 vulnerable people, including 270 since January 2026, have been safeguarded by the Safety Bus team.

Inspector Rya Cowan-Davies, from South Wales Police, said: “Cardiff has an excellent history of partnership working which helps ensure our night-time economy is safe as well as vibrant and welcoming.

“The Safety Bus is one example of the work being done to keep the city centre and surrounding area safe.

“The team are visible and victim-centred, and at the weekend, this approach helped save a man’s life.”