Paramedic's quick actions save man's life after sudden cardiac arrest

Simon Thompson had been experiencing pain and discomfort in his chest and forearms for a couple of weeks, but it was when he was at home on 9 August last year that he became increasingly unwell and asked his daughter Scarlet to call an ambulance.

Paramedic Chloe Spencer was dispatched in a rapid response vehicle, and as she arrived at Simon's house he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.

Chloe immediately began CPR before using a defibrillator to shock Simon's heart, which successfully restarted.

She was soon backed up by ambulance crew Kristi Watson, Senior Emergency Medical Technician, and Kian Hewstone, apprentice paramedic. Local Operations Manager Kev Hamlyn and advanced paramedic critical care Alex Pearce from Magpas Air Ambulance also came to Simon's aid.

Afterwards Simon said: "I'd been feeling a dull ache across my chest and forearms for a couple of weeks and the odd headache which I put down to training in the gym.

"I'd gone to my office early as usual, on the way home I wasn't feeling right. I had tightness in my chest.”

On arrival home, he asked his daughter Scarlet to call an ambulance. Simon added: "I sat on the settee with a bottle of water, I broke out in a sweat all over, that's the last I remember. I had a cardiac arrest. I woke with the team around me calling my name and asking me questions."

Once stable, Simon was transferred to Royal Papworth Hospital where he had two stents fitted. He was discharged five days later, returning for eight weeks of cardiac rehab.

Simon has made a full recovery and is even now planning a skiing holiday. He recently had the opportunity to reunite with Chloe at Huntingdon ambulance station.

Simon said: "Myself and my family cannot thank Chloe, the East of England Ambulance Service, Magpas and Royal Papworth Hospital enough."

Chloe Spencer said meeting Simon and his family again was extremely rewarding, and it was great to see he had fully recovered.

She said: "Emergencies like this reinforce the importance of early CPR and defibrillation in saving someone's life. These steps ultimately allowed Simon to defy the odds and continue living a happy life with his family."

Would you know what to do if a loved one went into cardiac arrest?

Free CPR and defibrillator awareness training is available through EEAST Heart, delivered by EEAST volunteers and funded by charitable donations. To find out more about joining a training session, go to our website.

Photo caption: Simon Thompson (left) with paramedic Chloe Spencer and wife Tina at Huntingdon ambulance station.