Funeral home worker says thanks to Norfolk crews

A funeral home worker has thanked the ambulance staff who helped save his life.

Robert Long was having a cup of tea at Rosedale Funeral Home in Diss, Norfolk, on the morning of 4^th September when he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.

Thanks to immediate CPR by a colleague and the quick response of our staff, they managed to restart the 73-year-old’s heart.

Robert, who has worked as a funeral bearer for 10 years, was last week (23^rd March) reunited with his life-savers.

He said he felt “marvellous” after having stents fitted at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

“I feel good and healthy and I have a lot of respect for these people,” said Robert, who has returned to work after making a full recovery.

Colleague Nigel Skipper said they were preparing for a funeral when Robert collapsed at about 9.30am. Nigel, who had completed a first aid course a few weeks before, immediately started CPR whilst Richard Green spoke to the ambulance call handler.

Steve Hammond, Community Partnership Training Officer, was on scene in under six minutes followed by paramedic Tanya Chenery and student paramedic Zoe Clarke in an ambulance and another ambulance crew manned by paramedic Stephen and ECA Lisa.

Steve said: “Skip was doing really good compressions, so I asked him to continue while I got the defibrillator out. We shocked him three times and by the time the crew arrived, he had started breathing for himself.”

Tanya added: “If Nigel had not got on his chest immediately, the outcome would not have been as successful. It is really important to have first aiders in work places who recognise when someone is in cardiac arrest and start chest compressions. The fact Robert is here now says everything.”

Published 1st April, 2016