A MOTHER who is lucky to be alive thanks to the quick-thinking of her partner has been reunited with members of an ambulance service who helped them in their hour of need.
Sam Purcell, 37, of South Shields, mother of two year Jake, two, and Ella, five, Sam Purcell, suffered a cardiac arrest at her family home in April and her partner Steven Shepherd dialled 999.
Clear lifesaving instructions from North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) health advisor Christopher Bradley, supported Steven to perform CPR on his partner Sam, before the ambulance crew arrived.
Paramedic Martin Rowntree and student paramedic Christopher Howell were soon on scene quickly to give Sam life-saving emergency treatment and transport her to hospital.
Steven said: “I followed Sam into the living room to eat our lunch when I noticed she didn’t look well. Her eyes weren’t right and she was gasping for breath when suddenly, she became unresponsive and started being sick everywhere.
“I immediately rang 999 for an ambulance. This all happened in seconds but it felt like it was going on for ages. The call handler was really good and gave me clear instructions on what to do next. I couldn’t find a pulse and so the call handler told me to get Sam on the floor and start CPR.
“By this point, Sam was stone cold and extremely grey in colour. I was screaming for her to come back to me. I really thought I lost her. But, she is here today, alive and well and I could not have given her CPR without the brilliant help of the call handler.”
NEAS health advisor Christopher Bradley, gave critical CPR instructions to Steven at the other end of the phone, which gave Sam the best chance of survival.
Christopher said: “I realised how life threatening Sam’s condition was early into the 999 call. Steven needed to give Sam CPR and so I talked him through the rhythm of the chest compressions whilst the ambulance was on its way.
“Luckily Steven already had basic first aid training in CPR, which was crucial in him helping Sam because when I was talking him through the chest compressions, he remembered the skills he had learned.
“I also volunteer as a community first responder and I would urge anyone to take part in CPR training. Like Steven, you never know when you might need to use the skills and the most important thing is that you can save a life.”
Asda admin manager Sam said, “I think everyone should be educated in delivering CPR as this is it can be the difference between life and death. Steven has received basic CPR training through his work and ultimately, this gave him the skills and confidence he needed to help save my life."
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