Top team flies into action to save mother’s life during cardiac arrest Carrying out correct CPR could save someone’s life. Here, one mum who collapsed and went into cardiac arrest shares her story

Amother-of-four who collapsed in work and suffered a cardiac arrest has thanked the men who saved her life.

Alwena Evans, manager of Thomas Motor Mart in the village of Glanrafon, Denbighshire, was sitting in the garage’s back office one afternoon when she suddenly began to feel ill.

One of her colleagues quickly jumped into action to perform CPR when she collapsed to the floor, while road and air ambulance teams made their way to the scene.

Alwena, who lives in Bala, said: “I went to work as normal feeling fine. It was about lunchtime when I started to feel unwell and I vomited and also started sweating.

“At first I thought it was just a bug, but then I suddenly collapsed from my chair.”

MoT tester Gavin Anyon was planning to head home for the day when he spotted Alwena falling.

He dialled 999 and started to perform CPR with the guidance of Welsh Ambulance Service call handler Amanda Williams.

Gavin said: “I was literally just about to walk out of the door when I saw her collapse from the chair and fall to the floor. I dialled 999 and the lady on the phone told me exactly what to do.

“I did a few checks before starting CPR and everything just happened so quickly, but afterwards it was a very nerve-racking experience. I was just relieved when I knew she was OK.”

Paramedics Ludwick Mrowiec and Gareth Roberts, based at Bala Ambulance Station, arrived on the scene within six minutes, followed shortly by a member of the Uwchaled Community First Responder (CFR) team.

They confirmed Alwena was suffering a cardiac arrest and, after delivering a shock with a defibrillator, achieved a return of spontaneous circulation.

However, the 65-year-old went back into cardiac arrest and required a further five shocks, as well as other lifesaving treatment.

Ludwick said: “We arrived and saw that Gavin had done a good job and from there everything just went like clockwork that day.

“We gave Alwena one shock and she responded well, but then she reverted back into cardiac arrest and we had to give a further five shocks. She was doing really well when the helicopter arrived.

“We did an electrocardiogram (ECG) which confirmed there was something wrong with her heart and she was then taken to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.”

The medics were supported by Corwen ambulance crew Manon Williams and Ganor Smith, along with consultants Dr Stephan Clements and Dr James Chinery and critical care practitioner Kate Owen on the Wales Air Ambulance.

Together they stabilised her condition before Alwena was airlifted to the North Wales Cardiac Centre at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd on the afternoon of October 11, 2017.

There she underwent an operation to have a stent fitted to improve the blood flow around her heart.

She was discharged from hospital nine days later and returned to work a week before Christmas.

Alwena, who has three grandchildren, was recently reunited with Ludwick and Gareth to thank them for their involvement in saving her life.

She said: “The care I received was absolutely brilliant, it was first class and I couldn’t fault what everyone did for me.

“Although I hadn’t met them before, they regularly call into the garage for fuel and Ludwick went to school with my daughter.

“I was going to my daughter’s one day after I was out of hospital when Ludwick happened to walk round the corner with his children on the way to school.”

Ludwick said: “Her daughter, Tracy, lives round the corner from me so I bumped into her a few times and asked how she was getting on.

“Then one of our friends, Tim Williams, had a do on at Neuadd Buddug, and I saw her other daughter, Mandy, there and she gave me a big hug.”

Gareth said: “It’s quite good because we don’t often get to meet patients after we’ve treated them, so