A gym goer has today had the chance to meet the East Midlands Ambulance Service crews and gym staff who saved his life.
Alan Burgin, 67, from Northamptonshire, was taking part in an over-50s gym session at Danes Camp Leisure Centre in November when he collapsed, suffering a cardiac arrest.
Gym supervisor Michael Jinks identified that Alan was in cardiac arrest and had stopped breathing. He alerted other staff members who called 999 and started chest compressions.
Together with his colleague Scott Digby they used an on-site defibrillator to shock Alan’s heart back into action.
Michael said: “In ten years of training as a lifeguard and within the gym, this is the first time I have had to use CPR. Training is completely different to physically doing it but I am so glad that it has had a positive outcome.”
The ambulance crew of Martin Allinson, Julie Richards and Kathy Farmer arrived within minutes and, thanks to the actions of the gym staff, found Alan was breathing and his pulse had returned.
They then transported Alan to Kettering General Hospital for further treatment.
Today (Monday January 28, 2019) in a very happy reunion at Danes Camp Leisure Centre, Alan and his wife Jean said thank you to the staff and crew who saved his life.
He said: “I don’t really remember much from that day, apart from waking up with the paramedics around me.
“Myself and my wife can’t say thank you enough to the gym staff, the crew who attended and the staff at Kettering General Hospital. What more can I say, they were outstanding and saved my life.
“I’m on the road to recovery now and taking each day as it comes but I hope to be back in the gym soon.”
Lee Brentnall, Ambulance Operations Manager for Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire said:
"Michael’s and Scott’s actions on that day are in line with the published Chain of Survival for cardiac arrest. Their early recognition, immediate call for help, starting cardiac chest compressions and using a community-placed defibrillator saved Mr Burgin's life.
“It was fantastic to hear that the care from our paramedics and subsequent care from Kettering General Hospital meant that three days later, he was discharged from and is looking forward to his returns to an active life.
“My advice would be that if you have the opportunity to learn CPR and how to use a defibrillator, to take up the offer because you too could become a lifesaver.”