A new defibrillator has been installed at a Nottinghamshire retirement complex after a resident suffered a cardiac arrest and was saved by an off-duty paramedic responding to a GoodSAM alert.
Late last year, John Hewitt, from Radcliffe on Trent, was reunited with the crew who saved his life when he went into cardiac arrest at his mother’s home in the village in the summer of 2018.
Off-duty Paramedic Suzie Matthews rushed to his aid after receiving a GoodSAM alert and saved John’s life.
Since then John has made a full recovery and with the help of Suzie and the Community Response Team, he has overseen the installation of a defibrillator in the community he lives in.
John realised that without the lifesaving equipment others may not be as fortunate as him.
He said: “After I suffered a cardiac arrest, I realised how vital equipment like this can be. Minutes matter when someone is suffering a cardiac arrest, so to have that equipment close by and accessible will make a world of difference.
“I have my own defibrillator fitted now but if the one now installed can help even just one person, then it will make all the difference.”
On Friday, John was joined by Suzie Matthews, Paramedic; Michael Barnett-Connolly, Head of Community Response, Collaboration and Engagement; Claire Blount, from the retirement home; and Keith Richmond, Park Manager; to unveil the new defibrillator in the complex.
Michael Barnett-Connolly said:
“We are really pleased to have supported John with the placement and sourcing of this device.
“Using a defibrillator on a person experiencing cardiac arrest as soon as possible gives the best chance of survival. East Midlands Ambulance Service actively encourage the placement of Public Access Defibrillators by organisations, businesses and communities.
“The more readily available defibrillators are alongside people willing to act in an emergency will undoubtedly lead to improved survival rates for patients suffering out of hospital cardiac arrests.”