A well-known businessman who went into cardiac arrest outside his shop in Derby has been reunited with the ambulance crew who saved his life.
Bryan Earl, 69, who has owned Coussins DIY shop in Blagreaves Lane for 15 years, was working in his storeroom at 3.40pm on 31 January when he began having chest pains.
He said: "Sweat was streaming into my eyes and the pain in my chest had gone from 'indigestion' to 'steamroller'.
"My legs weren't working properly, so I called for my wife, Beverley."
Bryan’s wife of 36 years, Beverley, immediately called 999 and spoke to our call handler Vanessa Tanner.
Beverley said: “He told me he didn’t feel well, and as soon as I saw him I knew what was happening."
While on the phone, Beverley made the decision to take Bryan to hospital, but as he got in the car his heart attack worsened.
Thankfully Paramedic Sam Phelan arrived in a fast response vehicle, followed moments later by Ian Roe and Julian King in an ambulance.
Beverley said: “Suddenly I heard these amazing sirens and this angel, Sam, turned up in her ambulance car. We got him out of the car onto the ground and she started CPR. It was all a miracle.”
Bryan received a shock from Sam’s defibrillator and began breathing for himself again.
Sam said: “The incident came through to me as chest pains. When I arrived Bryan was in the passenger seat and he looked awful – I could tell he was having a heart attack.
“Just as I was printing off an ECG, I heard Beverley say ‘Oh my God’ and I looked up to see that Bryan had gone into cardiac arrest."
The dad-of-four was taken to Royal Derby Hospital in the ambulance where the blockage in his heart was removed and he began his road to recovery.
Beverley added: “I really didn’t think he was going to pull through, I thought that was it and I wasn’t ready to lose him after 36 years together.
“I still can’t believe how amazing everyone was on that day. Bryan is a lucky guy.”
Bryan is a father to four children, and also has has eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Following his cardic arrest, Bryan says that every day he has now is extra special and he is spending extra time with his grandchildren.
He said: "Every morning I look out the window and think 'it's amazing I'm here'.
"Every day is a good day thanks to these guys and the wider NHS. I received the best service in the world."
Bryan and Beverley plan to hold an open gardens at their home in the future to raise money for Rainbows, the air ambulance, EMAS and the coronary unit at RDH.
The dad-of-four was taken to Royal Derby Hospital in the ambulance where the blockage in his heart was removed and he began his road to recovery.
Beverley added: “I really didn’t think he was going to pull through, I thought that was it and I wasn’t ready to lose him after 36 years together.
“I still can’t believe how amazing everyone was on that day. Bryan is a lucky guy.”
Bryan is a father to four children, and also has has eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Following his cardic arrest, Bryan says that every day he has now is extra special and he is spending extra time with his grandchildren.
He said: "Every morning I look out the window and think 'it's amazing I'm here'.
"Every day is a good day thanks to these guys and the wider NHS. I received the best service in the world."
Bryan and Beverley plan to hold an open gardens at their home in the future to raise money for Rainbows, the air ambulance, EMAS and the coronary unit at RDH.