"If not for them I would not be here today" - mother thanks ambulance crews

A mother-of-three has said thank you to the ambulance staff who saved her life after she collapsed at a Suffolk pub.

Pub worker Michelle Daley was playing pool at the Golden Hind in Ipswich on 26^th August 2014 before the start of a shift when her heart stopped.

The 36-year-old was last week (28^th August) reunited with the ambulance staff who rushed to her aid when she went into cardiac arrest.

Michelle said she was very grateful for the quick actions of a colleague and a pub regular who called 999 and started CPR, and the rapid response of the ambulance service.

The first ambulance was on scene in under seven minutes with Emergency Care Assistant Dale Banyard-Sawyer and Paramedic Lee Eastall on board.

Another ambulance crew made up of of Paramedic Emma Cornford and Paramedic Nicholas Williams was also on scene a few minutes later, followed by ambulance officer David Grover and the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Following one shock from a defibrillator, they managed to get Michelle’s heart beating again and she was taken to Ipswich Hospital for further care.

Michelle, who had surgery at Papworth Hospital to prevent a repeat episode, said she could not remember a two month period after the incident.

Michelle said: “It is really good to see them. If it was not for them I would not be standing here today and I would not have been around to have witnessed the birth of my grandson. I can’t thank them enough.”

Pictured L-R: Nicholas, Lee, Michelle, Emma and Dale.

Published 3rd September