Jon Thordarson was travelling back home from a holiday in Gran Canaria when fellow passenger Terry Potter collapsed from a cardiac arrest.
A paramedic, Jon started CPR and gave six shocks with the plane’s defibrillator before 50-year-old Terry started showing signs of life.
“I’ve spent the last seven years volunteering as part of Restart a Heart Day, teaching people how to do CPR and what to do if someone has a cardiac arrest," Jon explained to Hull Live.
“Despite attending and managing out-of-hospital cardiac arrests on a regular basis for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, this is the first time it has happened while I’ve been off duty… and in a different country!"
Thanks to Jon's efforts Terry was well enough to return to England six days later.
“Cardiac arrests can happen to anyone at any time and by knowing CPR, you can give that person the best possible chance of survival.”
Last month, Jon travelled to London and was reunited with Terry.
Terry admits he owes his life to Jon and describes him as an “angel”.
He said: “It’s really difficult to sum up the experience. I am of course forever grateful to Jon for being there and not only giving me a second chance at life but also restoring my faith in people.
“There are indeed angels and heroes in this world. I wouldn’t be here today if he hadn’t stepped in and taken control.
“I now have first-hand experience of how CPR knowledge and expertise can save lives.”
Their story has been highlighted as part of Restart a Heart Day which encourages people to train up so they can help those who suffer cardiac arrest.
As part of the campaign, secondary schools are being urged to sign up for a free life-saving lesson from Yorkshire Ambulance Service to mark Restart a Heart Day 2022.
Staff and volunteers will visit secondary schools across Yorkshire to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to around 40,000 students on Friday, October 14.
The campaign launch comes as research confirms the effectiveness of the Restart a Heart Day training on people’s confidence and competence to step in and save the life of someone in cardiac arrest.
Results of a study among students who took part in last year’s event revealed that the life-saving lesson led to:
- 90 per cent being able to identify someone in cardiac arrest (48 per cent increase from pre to post training)
- 93 per cent being confident to perform chest compressions (51 per cent increase from pre to post training)
- 58 per cent being confident to use a defibrillator if there was one nearby (55 per cent increase from pre to post training)
- 93 per cent being willing to perform CPR on a family member (33 per cent increase from pre to post training)
- 86 per cent being willing to perform CPR on a stranger (42 per cent increase from pre to post training).
Jason Carlyon, Community Engagement Manager for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “We were delighted with the results of the research which emphasise the importance of the CPR training on student’s knowledge, attitude and willingness to help in the event of a cardiac arrest.
“By making CPR training more accessible to all, we will be able to improve cardiac arrest survival rates.”
Secondary schools can register for Restart a Heart Day 2022 by completing the form by clicking here before the closing date on Friday, April 1.
Over 30,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest out of hospital in the UK every year. The earlier a patient can receive CPR and a shock from a defibrillator, the greater their chance of survival.
Restart a Heart Day, which is supported by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity, is again being organised in conjunction with the Resuscitation Council (UK), the British Heart Foundation, which provides training equipment to eligible schools free of charge as part of its Nation of Lifesavers campaign, and St John Ambulance.
For more information click here.
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