Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Grateful Agnes hails lifesavers
Mears workers’ emergency action after heart attack
The quick- think ing actions of an alert pair of electricians helped save the life of an Airdrie woman who suffered a heart attack in her own home.
Agnes McGhee, who lives alone, collapsed at home in Parkhead Lane earlier this month with severe chest pains.
Fortunately, heroes Neil Claxton and Matthew Bell, employees at repairs and maintenance firm Mears Scotland, leapt into action and helped Agnes on to her couch before calling emergency services and getting an ambulance to take her to hospital.
The electricians had visited Agnes’ home to help complete work on her kitchen and Agnes, 56, says she “wouldn’t have liked to think what could have happened” if the pair hadn’t been on hand.
Relieved Agnes, who is now back home recovering from her ordeal, told the Advertiser: “I was lying on the couch and could feel the pain in my chest and when I got up and let Neil and Matthew into the house, I collapsed in the hall.
“The guys picked me up and put me back on the couch and gave me a glass of water.
“They then went outside to call an ambulance but the lock on the door fell – so I had to get back up to let them in again and I collapsed again.
“Neil and Matthew stayed with me right up until I was driven away in the ambulance and they were excellent with me.
“I cannot thank the two of them enough and I wouldn’t have liked to think what could have happened if they hadn’t been there with me.”
Though she suffers from angina, Agnes had never had any chest pain issues in the past and was badly shaken by her terrifying experience.
She said: “It was very frightening as I’ve never had a heart attack before.
“I didn’t know what was happening and my angina spray wasn’t doing anything to help it.
“I was taken to Monklands Hospital and spent 10 days in there, where I seemed to get every test known to man done – at one point I asked if they were going to give me an MOT!
“But the doctors have no idea what brought the heart attack on. “I’ve been given medication and have to go back for a check-up next month and get an angiogram done at Hairmyres Hospital.
“I’m back home now and feel OK. I am just watching what I am doing and being more careful when I’m doing things.
“I’d like to thank all of the staff at Ward 2 in Monklands who were absolutely brilliant with me while I was in hospital.”
The generous Mears team also had a few surprises in store for Agnes when she returned home.
Agnes explained: “Mears were putting in a new kitchen and just finishing off some odds and ends when I had my heart attack.
“But it’s finished now and when the workmen were out, they noticed that the kitchen could do with being painted, so they did that for me as a lovely gesture as they didn’t want me doing it after what happened.
“Mears also sent me a beautiful big bouquet of flowers and I am so thankful for all of their kindness and support.”
Richard Claxton, Mears’ senior contracts manager, for electrical, said: “We’re very pleased that Mrs McGhee is back home and recovering well and we’re all very proud of Neil and Matthew’s quick thinking.
“They are a credit to Mears and to the community.”