A man who suffered a cardiac arrest while playing bowls has donated money to the volunteer ‘community first responders’ (CFR) who saved his life.
John Preece, 81, from Claverley in Shropshire, collapsed after a game of indoor bowls at Alveley Village Hall on December 18.
Mike Nixon and Martin Hill, both Alveley Community First Responders, were first on the scene and immediately began CPR on Mr Preece.
Moments later two paramedic crews and a critical care car from the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity arrived.
The team managed to restart Mr Preece’s heart before he was taken to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton where he was fitted with an internal defibrillator.
Mr Preece, in a letter thanking CFRs Mike and Martin, said: “The phrase ‘having ones ducks in a row’ couldn’t have been more apt than on that day.
“Had I been anywhere else, I am sure I would not have survived, so I owe the CFRs and the Air Ambulance doctor my life, for which I am most grateful.
“Thanks to you good people, I have only lost 5% of my heart function. In thanks to you I am making a donation to the First Responders.”
Mike, who has been a CFR for 10 years, said: “I am so happy John had a positive outcome. Just shows the importance of early CPR and the excellent work CFRs do in their local community supporting West Midlands Ambulance Service.”
First Responders in Alveley had undergone refresher training on CPR and defibrillator use a few months before the incident at the village hall.
Mike said the money donated by Mr Preece has been spent on installing decals and signage on a new Alveley CFR vehicle.
