Large potholes can be a health hazard, but one in Nebraska has turned out to be quite literally a lifesaver.

Paramedics in the US state this week reported that a man being rushed to hospital with a racing heart could well have been saved thanks to a pothole.

The 59-year-old had a racing heartbeat of more than 200 beats a minute. When the ambulance he was in hit a large pothole, his heartbeat returned to normal.

It might sound unrealistic, but doctors say a sudden jolt – like that of hitting a large pothole – can help the heart regain its regular beat.

Abnormal heartbeat – arrhythmia – can prevent normal circulation of blood to the heart and brain. It is usually treated with drugs, electric shocks... and occasionally potholes.

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