A man who completed a first aid course on a whim used it to help sustain his dying father's heartbeat just weeks later. Alun Sturley had completed the CPR and first aid training class through the job centre, little did he know that weeks later it would prove a vital skill to save his dad's life.
Pauline Sturley, Alun's mum, said the two were chatting in their home in Johnstown, Carmarthen one Sunday afternoon in 2019 when they found her husband and Alun's dad, John Sturley, "dead in his armchair." Pauline immediately called for an ambulance, which took 19 minutes to arrive, while Alun used his new skills to keep his dad's heart going.
Pauline, 74, said: "Alun can't work as he has a problem with his back that could render him paralysed so he completed the CPR course through the Job Centre. We were chatting out the kitchen one day and Alun asked if I wanted to go to Tesco, and I said no not today I don't fancy it.
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"Good job I did as we turned around and he was dead in the chair. He actually died in that chair. We rang the ambulance and Alun got him onto the floor flat. The ambulance arrived within 19 minutes and he worked on him for that whole time until the paramedics got to us.
"And they got him around using a defibrillator and he is still here with us now. I am so proud of Alun because it was hard for him, it was his father and he was dead, and he helped bring him back to us."
John, 77, who has a history of heart problems, was taken to Morriston Hospital in Swansea for treatment. Pauline and her family are so grateful for the course that Alun, 44, completed which enabled him to save John's life, they want everyone to be taught it. Get the latest medical news from Wales here.
"It is a life skill they should teach it in school, even to children as young as 10 or 11. I know I would not have been able to save him, I was panicking, I'm so proud of Alun."
Pauline nominated Alun for a British Heart Foundation Heart Hero Award in 2022 to recognise his amazing, life-saving achievement. She said: "I nominated Alun because although he has a serious medical condition himself he used his newly acquired skill to save his Dad, he is our hero. To John, Alun is his hero and how he feels towards him he is unable to put into words, however John now claims two birthdays as he was reborn after his survival. We think that learning CPR is paramount for everyone."
BHF Cymru has commended Alun Sturley for saving his father’s life by using the CPR skills he learned at a course run by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Workways Scheme. Alun was named a CPR Hero at the British Heart Foundation’s national Heart Hero Awards and was presented with his award by Head of BHF Cymru, Rhodri Thomas at the charity’s Carmarthen store.
Rhodri said: “The Heart Hero Awards are the highlight of our year, bringing together inspirational nominees from different walks of life and from every part of the UK. From fantastic children to remarkable pensioners, they all share such spirit and embody the very best of us.
“I’m proud and humbled that we saw several nominees from Wales recognised for their achievements, and I’m delighted to have been able to meet Alun, Pauline and John in person; to congratulate John and to thank the whole family for the amazing support they give the BHF and the motivation they bring to myself and the whole BHF Cymru team.”
“BHF Cymru is encouraging people across Wales to support Heart Month in February, to help save and improve lives. Everyone has a heart that’s precious to someone else. A devoted mum or dad, a beloved grandparent, an irreplaceable friend or colleague. When just one heart stops, so many more can be devastated.We’re calling on everyone to Go Red to help fund lifesaving research and take 15 minutes to learn CPR with the BHF’s RevivR app.”
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