Bricket Wood pub owner reunites with ambulance crews who saved his life
Date: 6 November 2025A Bricket Wood man who suffered a cardiac arrest outside his home has been reunited with the ambulance crews who saved his life almost one year later.
Danny Harding, 60, who runs The Old Fox pub in Bricket Wood, thanked the life-saving medics who came to his aid on 25 November 2024, in a heartwarming reunion at Watford ambulance station.
At the time, Danny and his wife Julie had just made an offer to buy The Old Fox, which had been closed since 2017. Danny started experiencing chest pain while driving, and managed to return home. However he was unable to get out of his car, so he phoned his wife Julie – who immediately called 999 for help.
Within minutes, East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) paramedic El'ad Amswych arrived on scene, and quickly determined that Danny was experiencing an ST-elevation myocardial infarction, a severe type of heart attack. El'ad was soon joined by paramedics May Hooper and Harley Adams, and apprentice paramedic Elliot Kraftman.
While still sitting in his car, Danny went into cardiac arrest. The team began CPR and delivered two shocks to his heart, which successfully restarted so that Danny was breathing again.
EEAST leading operations manager Danielle Briggs, and Dr Cosmo Scurr from the Beds and Herts Emergency Critical Care Scheme (BHECCS), arrived soon after to provide additional support while Danny was moved from his car to the ambulance.
He was rushed to Harefield Hospital for emergency surgery, and around a week later was discharged home.
Danny has since made a remarkable recovery, and in July he and his wife Julie saw their dream of reopening The Old Fox pub become a reality.
Danny said: "I wouldn't be here without them, it's as simple as that. I'm so grateful to every single person who helped me that day. They didn't just save my life – they gave Julie and me the chance to live our dream and open our pub. I love being behind the bar, and thanks to the ambulance service and the amazing team at Harefield Hospital, I've got a few more pints to pull yet!”
El'ad Amswych, the first paramedic to arrive on scene, said: "When I arrived, Danny was still in his car and clearly having a heart attack. Moments later, he went into cardiac arrest and we had to act fast. It was a critical situation, but thanks to the teamwork and rapid response, we were able to bring him back. Meeting him again now and seeing how well he's doing is incredibly rewarding."
Danny and Julie are now planning to install a public access defibrillator outside their pub.
Photo caption (from L-R): Dr Cosmo Scurr (BHECCS), Elliot Kraftman, El'ad Amswych, Danny and Julie Harding, Danielle Briggs, May Hooper and Harley Adams at Watford ambulance station.
