A Cullercoats nurse was found unresponsive by her wife after she suffered a heart attack while gardening.
Heather Fenton was found slumped on the ground in March by her wife Janette Hillicks as she brought her a cup of tea. Janette had to drag Heather across the garden to lie her on her back before running into the house to ring 999 and was talked through how to do CPR by a call handler from the North East Ambulance Service.
Janette gave Heather CPR for 10 minutes with the help of a neighbour before paramedics arrived and took her to the Freeman Hospital.
Read more: North East Ambulance Service recruitment drive: Jobs as paramedics and call handlers available
Speaking of that day, Janette, 56, said: “I’d brought Heather a cup of tea and was heading back into the house when she slumped to the ground. She was blue and non-responsive and wasn’t breathing.
“The call handler was fantastic. She was very calm and encouraging as she talked me through how to do CPR and gave updates on the ambulance’s arrival time. Her reassurance made a massive difference and was key to saving Heather’s life."
Janette added: “It’s really hard to get across the impact the ambulance service and the marvellous people who work for it has had on our lives.”
The couple have described the ambulance crew as phenomenal, and they even stayed to speak to Janette while Heather was in surgery. Heather was fitted with two stents and had an angioplasty, which widens the arteries that are blocked. Four days after her collapse, she was home.
Heather, 59, who is a paediatric nurse who has worked for the NHS for 41 years, said: “The cup of tea was the last thing I remember before waking up in the Freeman Hospital the next day. Prior to my cardiac arrest, I had no symptoms.
“Recovery has been slower due to my injuries from the CPR but I’m getting there and waiting to attend a cardiac rehabilitation programme before returning to work.”
CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival and in the last year, NEAS has supported over 17,600 people to do CPR over the phone.
Passing on her thanks to the staff that helped save her life, Heather said: “I’m a great advocate for the NHS. It’s a fantastic service which is served by dedicated and caring staff to whom I owe my life.
“I would like to say thank you to the ambulance staff for being there for me and for supporting my wife through the most horrendous and stressful time in her life. Without them, I wouldn’t have made it to the hospital for the staff there to work their magic. I have had the chance to tell my family, friends and colleagues how much they mean to me and how much I love life!”
Janette gave Heather CPR for 10 minutes with the help of a neighbour whilst being talked through by call handler Julie Gregg. Julie said: “I’m so pleased to hear Heather is doing well, it brought a tear to my eye. It’s very kind to be recognised by them.”
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