The Spalding family of a dad who suffered a cardiac arrest at the swimming pool, have praised the actions of those that saved his life on Restart a Heart Day including the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance (LNAA).
Andrew Briggs (55) suffered a heart-attack while watching is daughters Mollie and Emily swimming at a pool in Grantham.
His life was saved in part by the air ambulance arriving in 15 minutes continuing CPR started by a junior paramedic and doctor who were spectators at the event.
South Lincolnshire Swimming Club members Mollie and Emily had been warming up for races in January 2022 when their mum Jackie arrived to be greeted by the sound of alarms and people evacuating.
“They are doing CPR on someone,” she heard someone shout. And then Mollie called her with the shocking news: “It’s dad” she said.
LNAA paramedic Rob Fillmer said: “Andrew was in cardiac arrest and it was great to see so many people contributing to his care at the poolside, fortunately for Andrew most were healthcare professionals.
“We initiated advanced life support which enabled Andrew’s heart to start again.
“He was given an anaesthetic to put him to sleep to allow us to optimise his post resuscitation care and safely transport him to the specialist hospital.
“Immediate recognition and early interventions from these bystanders, combined with the critical care provided by LNAA and assistance from East Midlands Ambulance Service all contributed to a positive outcome for Andrew.”
Andrew was in a coma for four days while tests revealed he had an abnormal heart rhythm.
His wife Jackie said: “The doctors had warned me that he may have brain damage, or that he may not even wake up again. But when he came around we got the answer we were praying for, Andrew was going to be fine.”
Andrew had a pacemaker and internal defibrillator inserted and a day later was able to go home. Within five months he was back working full-time at Duncan & Topliss.
Jackie continued: “It didn’t seem long before I heard the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance. I thought it had to be serious if they have been called, but it was also reassuring as I knew they would have all the necessary equipment and drugs to keep Andrew alive. You just feel like he is going to get the best chance to survive now.”
“I was really touched that Dr Paul Hancock, who treated Andrew at the poolside, rang the hospital afterwards to check how Andrew was doing.
“I then received a card from their Patient Family Liaison Officer, Hayley Burton.
“I never knew LNAA has an aftercare team offering this level of support. It is nice to know that we weren’t just a statistic, and they were still caring for us.
“We will forever be grateful for what everyone did that day. It has given us the chance to have all this extra time together.”
