Essex man reunited with life savers

The ambulance staff who saved the life of a man from Pitsea after he went into cardiac arrest last month have been reunited under much happier circumstances last week (Thursday, 15th December).

Ken Baldwin, 67, from Pitsea was at home when he felt chest pains in the early hours on 20th November. His wife dialled 999 and help arrived in the form of Paramedic Shaun Oliphant.

Shaun said: "I was first on scene and Ken was alert and talking to me, unfortunately his condition deteriorated rapidly and he went into cardiac arrest in front of me."

Back up was immediately requested and arrived minutes later in the form of Emma Rowe, Josh Erswell, Mark Hellis-Tatum and Dan Turner.

Fortunately the coordinated efforts of everyone involved, and the intervention with a Lucas device, Ken's heart restarted after the fifth shock.

He was taken to Basildon Hospital before being discharged five days later. Ken, who has no recollection of the ordeal aside from talking to Shaun, said: "You just can't knock what these guys do; I'm able to spend Christmas with my family when I would've been spending it in a coffin."

Dan credited the actions of everyone involved and said: "The chain of survival worked perfectly to ensure Ken had the best chance of survival."

Ken's daughter Nadine who works for the Trust said: "It is an honour to wear this uniform, I'm simply amazed at the work that everyone did for my dad."

Published 23rd December, 2016