A traffic police officer fainted while on duty yesterday in the Pudong New Area and was sent to a hospital with the help of passers-by, including a foreigner.

The officer, Ma Jianhang, was in stable condition, police said. Ma collapsed in the middle of the road at Pudong's Dingxiang Road and Century Avenue about 8:45am yesterday while directing traffic, police said.

The officer's head was injured, witnesses said. As passers-by surrounded and tried to help the officer and wrap the injuries, a foreigner stepped out and reminded others to not move the officer until help arrived, witnesses said. The foreigner, identified by police as a male Caucasian in his 40s, knelt beside the officer and waited until paramedics arrived. He later left the scene, police said.

The foreigner "kept talking to the officer," witnesses said. Police said they thanked the foreigner and other warm-hearted people during the process. "The foreign friend acted like a pro," said Pudong police.

Ma caught a cold days ago and did not feel well yesterday, Pudong police said.