Claire Brown – Tuesday 28th January 2025 – 12.45pm.
A man whose heart stopped beating last year will be forever grateful to his wife, daughter and the team of ambulance staff who saved his life.
On the morning of 25th February 2024, Gary Gwillim woke up and went for his usual dog walk, not long after returning home, Gary told his wife Liz he felt unwell and thought he was suffering a heart attack. A few minutes later, he stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest.
Liz, who had already called 999 when Gary felt unwell, called back when her husband then stopped breathing. With the help of their daughter, Constance, Call Assessor Sharon Beddow instructed them to move Gary from the bed to the floor before giving them CPR guidance. Two ambulance crews and a critical care paramedic (CCP) responded to their home in Selly Oak, Birmingham.
Double paramedic crew Charles Lawler and Paul Kneller were the first crew on scene. Charles said: “On our arrival, Liz, was doing excellent quality CPR instructed by our call assessor. In total, Gary had 13 defibrillator shocks from the team and we achieved a ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation). With the help of the CCP we delivered further advanced treatment before Gary was taken to hospital for further emergency care where it was confirmed he had suffered a heart attack prior to his cardiac arrest.”
Gary, 54, said: “I was told they worked on me for an hour, refusing to give up. After having two stents fitted, I was placed on life support in critical care where I stayed for five weeks, and then I spent two weeks on a ward before being discharged to begin my recovery at home. I’m back to exercising, walking the dog and back at work full time.”
After contacting the Trust to say thank you to the staff involved that day, Gary, Liz and Constance visited Hollymoor Ambulance hub on Wednesday 8th January to meet the two ambulance crews, the CCP and call assessor.
Brierley Hill based Call Assessor, Sharon, said: “I’ve worked for the service for 22 years and I’ve never met a patient before, so meeting the family has been a privilege and honour. Liz and Constance were absolutely fantastic that day. CPR was started straight away and that obviously has had a massive effect on Gary and his outcome.”
Charles added: “To meet Gary, Liz and Constance has been truly heart-warming and it’s great to see he’s doing so well. This is an excellent example of why early CPR is so important, and they should be very proud of helping to save Gary’s life. I’d urge everyone to learn CPR as you never know when you’re going to need it.”
Speaking at the reunion with his lifesavers, Gary, said: “I don’t remember anything of the actual event itself but seeing them all has made me realise how lucky I am. Thankfully my heart is recovering well, and I shouldn’t have any long-lasting physical effects. Because of my wife and daughter’s quick actions, the amazing call assessor and the team of ambulance staff who came out that day as well as the team at hospital, I’m here today and got to celebrate my daughter’s 16th birthday and another family Christmas. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Pictured:
Front: Liz, Gary and Constance
Back: Call Assessor Sharon Beddow, Technician Nathan Mahon, Paramedic Catherine Lea, Paramedic Paul Kneller, CCP Ben Jones and Paramedic Charles Lawler.
CPR statistics
The benefits of improving bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) rates are evidenced around the world where the highest bystander CPR rates are directly linked to the highest survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest. Over 68,000 people suffer cardiac arrests outside of hospital in the UK every year. If this happens in front of a bystander who starts CPR immediately before the arrival of the ambulance, the patient’s chances of survival doubles.