Chatroom users save woman's life

A Canadian woman who collapsed at her PC was saved when her chatroom friends realised that she was in trouble.

According to Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail, Darlene Laurie had been suffering from a headache for five days. Sitting at her PC she managed to tap out 911 before collapsing.

Her online buddies, spread over 10 US states, tried phoning her at home but failed to get an answer.

One called directory enquiries to get the woman's area code, and managed to get an emergency 911 call to the local ambulance centre.

Paramedics broke into Laurie's home and found her semiconscious on the floor. Local police told the newspaper that the actions of Laurie's web friends may have saved her life.

Now fully recovered, Laurie spent the day fielding calls, emails and chat from her rescuers.