WE COULDN’T JUST LEAVE HIM DYING’
Laura raises funds for defibrillator after trying to save man who was shot
A Blantyre woman tried to save the life of a man shot dead in the town.
Laura Thomson attended the tragedy and used her first aid background to give CPR to Graham Williamson, but he died shortly after.
“I knew we were losing him, but we couldn’t leave him dying”, Laura told the Advertiser.
“It didn’t seem real. It was like something from a movie. It’s a moment of my life I will never forget.”
Now, Laura is raising funds to have a defibrillator installed in the area to help protect her community. She says that had one been on hand, it may have increased Graham’s chances of survival.
A Blant y re woman is fundraising for a defibrillator after she tried to save the life of a man who was shot dead in the town.
Laura Thomson gave CPR to Graham “Kermit” Williamson on August 17, but says his chance of survival would have been greater had one been available nearby.
The 26- year- old was shot outside his home in Caithness Street.
He made his way to the street where he was helped by members of the public until an ambulance arrived. Medics raced him to University Hospital Wishaw but he died a short time later.
Laura says the traumatic event was beyond overwhelming and it has been on her mind ever since.
But the 36- year- old is determined to respond positively and is aiming to raise £1500 to cover the cost of the defibrillator by completing a roller skate marathon in Blantyre.
The event will see Laura skate around four miles every day between September 28 and October 5.
The childminder’s years of first aid experience were called upon on the day of the attack. Laura told the Advertiser: “I was one of the members of public trying to save the man that had been shot.
“I asked someone to get me a defibrillator but there were none available. The nearest one was at least 10 minutes away. It might not have saved him but would have given him a better chance. It might have bought a bit of time until he got the right help.
“It took me a while to get over it, those first few days were horrible. I saw the ambulance coming and the man’s friends were trying to get it to come down, but they refused because a gun was involved.
“They had to wait for armed response to come so he had to wait about 40 minutes before an ambulance got to him.”
Other members of the public were already giving the man CPR when Laura arrived and took over. She added: “I’ve done first aid courses since I was a teenager. I couldn’t leave the man dying on the street without trying something so that’s why I went down. I tried CPR but was unsuccessful.
“The defibrillator might have helped, you never know, it might have bought him that wee bit of time to get to the hospital where they would have more resources.
“It was totally overwhelming. It didn’t seem real. It was like something from a movie. It was absolute chaos. I hadn’t noticed everything else going on, I was just focussed on what I was doing.
“I didn’t know the man but because I’m trying to save his life I felt like I knew him.
“I’m talking to him even though he’s dying and egging him on to survive. It’s a moment of my life I will never forget.
“I knew we were losing him, but we couldn’t leave him lying dying. It’s tiring but I kept it going until the police arrived.”
Defibrillators can increase the chances of survival by up to 75 per cent if used between three and five minutes of cardiac arrest.
They are literally a lifeline before emergency responders attend.
Laura’s fundraiser will provide vital money to ensure a defibrillator is installed nearby.
Laura said: “He didn’t die until he was on the way to hospital so if a defibrillator had been available right away and given him a proper pulse, it might have been able to save his life, or given him that extra five or 10 minutes before the ambulance arrived.
“Surely even increasing chances by five per cent is better than nothing. Having a defib will increase everybody in the area’s chance of survival, that’s massive.
“For me, it’s a no-brainer.”
You can donate at justgiving. com/ crowdfunding/ laurathomson-512