“I cannot thank them enough”: Norfolk man says thank you to his rescuers

A west Norfolk man has been reunited with his life-savers after he suffered a heart attack at home.

Within minutes of calling 999 complaining of a tight chest and shortness of breath, a paramedic in a rapid response vehicle, ambulance crew, and the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) rushed to Philip Chapman’s aid.

The 67-year-old said he owed his life to the call handler, ambulance and air ambulance staff that came to his home in Snettisham on the morning of 22^nd July, after he went into cardiac arrest in the back of the ambulance.

Amazingly, Philip was discharged from hospital four days after being airlifted to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, after having his heart restarted.

He was reunited last week (9^th December) with Paramedic Darren Sullivan, Emergency Medical Technician Simon Blaker, Paramedic Kim Meek and Critical Care Paramedic Carl Smith.

Philip, who had a stent fitted at hospital and is on track to make a full recovery, said: “I got up and came down stairs and let the dog out which was fortunate because both doors were locked. I put the kettle on and I thought I felt horrendous and perspiration started pouring off me I felt I was going to pass out.

“I remember speaking to the call handler who told me to hang on and I did not seem to be on the phone long before the paramedic got there.

“I remember seeing the rotor blades of the helicopter and waking up in hospital. I cannot thank them enough. Everyone was amazing from the call handler to the ambulance staff to the air ambulance and the hospital staff.”

Philip’s story will be featured on Air Ambulance ER on Sky 1 in January after a production company followed the work of EAAA for the new series of the TV documentary.

Published 18th December, 2015