Cannock dad meets life-saving medic team who brought him back to life

Express & Star

Richard Ward, who was just 37 years old when he collapsed at home in March, visited Tollgate Ambulance Hub with his wife and four-year-old son on Monday to say thank you to the team of medics who helped to save his life.

Transcript

00:00It was a Friday morning, Rich had just taken Lucas, our son, to nursery.

00:04I popped upstairs to take a phone call and whilst I was up there I heard a strange noise

00:09from Rich. So I went down and found Rich slumped on the sofa, gasping, struggling for breath.

00:16So I got straight on to the ambulance service. I didn't realise but Rich was in cardiac arrest

00:21so he told me to start CPR, asked if there was anybody with me, which there wasn't.

00:26So I ran across to my neighbour who was a first responder, who luckily was in and came to help

00:31us and started CPR until the ambulance crew arrived very very quickly and took over and

00:36worked their magic. So when we arrived we found Mr Ward in cardiac arrest. His wife Teresa was

00:43doing CPR, very good CPR. We commenced advanced life support, requested an additional crew.

00:48We had requested heli-med who came and supported. Mr Ward's heart did start beating on his own

00:54and we transferred him up to the hospital where he received additional care.

00:58The first thing I remember is waking up in ICU. Confused where I was to be fair. I kept asking

01:03Teresa and her brother if I was going to die. I was in hospital for two weeks, ICU for three days

01:09and then on a cardiac ward for the rest of the time. I think this case really does show that

01:14early CPR is so important. Mrs Ward was doing fantastic CPR and I do believe that's made

01:20the big difference in this job. It's important that everybody learns CPR. Such a basic skill can

01:25make such a difference. Mr Ward's now going to spend a good majority of his life now with his son.

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