Basildon man given second chance at life after cardiac arrest thanks ambulance team

Paul Mann was driving in Billericay in December when he began experiencing symptoms similar to those he had felt during his first heart attack in 2022.

Paul remembers very little of the 999 call he made, which was answered by call handler Jennifer Roberts at the Norwich Emergency Operations Centre.

Jennifer quickly assessed his symptoms and stayed on the line, providing reassurance while help was dispatched. Emergency dispatcher Faye Parson, based in Chelmsford, coordinated a rapid response, sending an ambulance crew made up of paramedic Evie Andrews and apprentice emergency medical technician Abbie Wheeler.

On arrival, the crew assessed Paul and carried out an ECG, which confirmed he was having a heart attack. They immediately alerted the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre at Basildon University Hospital – the nearest specialist unit capable of performing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) – which accepted the patient.

However, just moments before leaving the scene, Paul went into cardiac arrest.

Evie and Abbie began CPR and called for additional support. They were quickly joined by a rapid response vehicle with paramedic Derek Wright, on-duty leading operations manager, Kate Bennett, and a BASICS Essex response car crewed by Medical Director Richard Booker and team doctor Shad Aziz.

Working together, the team successfully achieved a return of spontaneous circulation before conveying Paul to the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre for urgent specialist treatment, with BASICS Essex securing Paul’s airway, providing an emergency anaesthetic and administering additional drugs and further electrical shocks to stabilise his heart.

Following a good recovery, Paul later visited Basildon Ambulance Station to thank the crews, and everyone involved in his care.

Paul said:

“I honestly don’t think I would be here today without them, and I’m extremely grateful to everyone involved – from the ambulance service to the team at the hospital.

“From the moment I made the call to the care I received on scene, everyone was incredible. Evie and Abbie didn’t give up on me, and I can’t thank them enough.

“I feel a bit of a fraud, really, as everyone else went through so much – and I only remember waking up in hospital six days later so it was great to find out more about what happened on the day.”

Paramedic Evie Andrews said:

“As a crew, we knew from the moment we arrived on scene just how time critical Paul’s condition was. During those first few moments, Paul spoke to us about his family, which makes seeing him now, recovered and back with his loved ones, incredibly special.

“Knowing we were part of the team that helped save his life is a privilege, and it’s a job that will stay with us both for the rest of our careers.”

Abbie Wheeler an apprentice emergency medical technician, added:

"We don’t often get to see patients again, so meeting Paul and seeing him living life after everything he went through is incredibly special. It’s a privilege to have played a part in saving his life, and moments like this will stay with us forever."

Call handler Jennifer Roberts said:

“Today has been incredible. It’s a job that stayed with me because I knew how unwell Paul was. I stayed on the line until the crew arrived, as I knew he was alone in his car.

"The last update I saw after the call was that he had gone into cardiac arrest. It really stayed with me – just five minutes earlier I had been speaking with him, and then suddenly he was gone.

"When I received the email saying Paul wanted to meet the people involved, I wondered if it might be that call. Finding out that it was is truly amazing.

"I’m so happy for him, and incredibly proud to do the job I do and to have played a part in his story.”

BASICS Essex Medical Director Richard Booker said:

“I’m delighted that BASICS were able to bring some additional skills to the already fantastic work of the East of England Ambulance Service and the cardiology experts at Basildon.

“Everybody worked hard to make sure every link in the chain of survival was there for Paul on his day of need.”