Suffolk man who was 'close to death' thanks life-savers

Paramedics from Waveney have had the chance to meet a man whose heart was restarted 11 times.

Sixty-year-old Steve Clark from Lowestoft met Andrew Ormiston and Jenny Stocking, and Student Paramedic Thomas Lewis-McDonald, on Wednesday (24th August) so he could thank them for rushing to his aid when he collapsed in March 2015.

The grandfather-of-four collapsed in his kitchen as Andrew and Thomas pulled up outside his home in an ambulance.

Jenny, who attended soon afterwards, said: “Steve was so close to death, but he kept fighting. It is amazing to see him so well now.”

He was resuscitated eight times at the scene and en route to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and arrested a further three times whilst being prepared for surgery.

Steve, a refrigerator engineer, was in hospital for four days after having stents and a balloon inserted and was off work for three months.

“I can remember unlocking the door and I remember it going dark and it felt like I was falling off a cliff. I remember coming out of theatre later that night and feeling great,” he said.

“I cannot thank you enough. Everything I do now is down to the ambulance and hospital staff. Life is so fragile and we take it for granted.”