DAD TAUGHT ME CPR AND I SAVED HIM

Paramedic’s girl to the rescue

AN ambulanceman’s daughter saved his life – using the CPR techniques he taught her.

Scarlett Atherton came to her dad’s rescue when he suffered a cardiac arrest.

The 17-year-old revealed how she thought her dad Rich was dead when she found him “blue in the face” but knew exactly what to do.

She and her pal dialled 999 before she started trying to resuscitate the 48year-old after he collapsed at the family home in Gloucester.

Scarlett said: “We dragged him on to the floor and luckily I knew how to do CPR.

“He took a few gasps of breath and then the ambulance got here so quickly and the paramedics took over.”

Proud dad Rich said it was the “best decision” to teach his daughter the vital lifesaving skill.

He said: “If we hadn’t taught Scarlett how to do CPR I would not be here now – I would be dead.

“It’s so evident that this works and is absolutely the most beneficial thing we can be doing. Awareness of how to do CPR saves lives.”

Rich had fallen ill after working out at his home gym.

Scarlett went to get her dad a drink but when she got back she thought he was “dead”.

She said: “His eyes rolled back and he was completely blue in the face.” Mr Atherton taught her how to perform CPR when she was a little girl.

Scarlett and her friend Mia Freeman, also 17, received a special award at a ceremony hosted by the South West Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust. Both the teenagers were given chief executive commendations. CLOSE CALL: Rich with his wife Mandy and quick-thinking Scarlett