Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Woman Fined After Cardiac Arrest Caused Supermarket Parking Overstay
A woman went to a supermarket in New Zealand and had a medical emergency in the car park.
Her heart stopped, and another person helped restart it by doing chest compressions.
Paramedics said she had been momentarily technically dead.
She was taken to hospital for treatment.
Her car stayed in the car park while she was receiving help.
The car park allowed customers to stay for only 90 minutes.
Because the car stayed for about five and a half hours, the parking company sent her a fine.
Her family explained that the long stay happened because of the emergency.
The supermarket returned the money and asked the parking company to cancel the fine.
A 54-year-old woman suffered cardiac arrest in a New World supermarket car park in Orewa, Auckland, on July 26.
A stranger performed chest compressions and helped revive her after her heart stopped.
Her car remained parked for about five and a half hours, exceeding the 90-minute limit.
Smart Compliance Management initially issued an $80 fine, later reducing it to $30 after hearing the circumstances.
New World Orewa reimbursed the woman and asked the parking company to withdraw the notice; the company later apologized.
- Who
- A 54-year-old woman, her father Keith Wilkinson, a stranger who performed chest compressions, New World Orewa, and Smart Compliance Management.
- What
- The woman received a parking fine after her car remained in a supermarket car park during her cardiac arrest and hospital treatment.
- When
- The incident occurred on July 26; the car remained parked for about five and a half hours, and the notice arrived days later.
- Where
- New World supermarket in Orewa, Auckland, New Zealand.
- Why
- Her vehicle exceeded the 90-minute parking limit because she was being treated for a cardiac arrest.
Woman’s Family and Supermarket
Parking Operator
Whether the fine was appropriate
Woman’s Family and Supermarket
The family said the demand was offensive because the overstay resulted from a life-threatening medical emergency. New World Orewa intervened, refunded the payment, and asked for the notice to be withdrawn.
Parking Operator
Smart Compliance Management said it was contracted to provide fair and equal parking opportunities, that the 90-minute limit applied to customers, and that the breach notice had been correctly issued.
Response after the circumstances were explained
Woman’s Family and Supermarket
The woman paid the reduced fine to avoid further stress, while the supermarket later returned the money and sought cancellation of the notice.
Parking Operator
The parking company initially refused to cancel the notice, reduced the amount from $80 to $30, and later apologized, according to the report.
- Parking limit
- Customers were permitted to park for 90 minutes.
- Actual parking time
- Smart Compliance Management said the vehicle was parked for 341 minutes.
- Initial notice
- The parking company issued an $80 breach notice.
- Reduced amount
- The company reduced the amount to $30 after the family explained the emergency.
- Medical emergency
- The woman's heart stopped, and a stranger performed chest compressions before she was taken to North Shore Hospital.
- Reimbursement
- New World Orewa paid the money back after learning what had happened.
- Parking operator
- Smart Compliance Management operated the car park and said the notice had been correctly issued under its terms and conditions.