Thanks from the heart from Brian and family
PASSERS-BY, the ambulance service and coastguard and Great North Air Ambulance all helped save the life of a man who collapsed with a cardiac arrest while cutting firewood on a Berwick beach.
Brian Snell, 67, had travelled to Cocklawburn Beach on November 11 last year with wife Tracey, 48. Tracey was walking their dog, Teddy, while Brian used a chainsaw to chop firewood on the beach.
But Brian collapsed and Tracey found him “slumped over” their car and his face had gone blue.
She flagged down passers-by and they began to give Brian CPR while she called 999. Paramedics from North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) were then able to use a defibrillator to restart Brian’s heart, while the support of the Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team and Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) helped get him to safety.
Their helicopter airlifted Brian to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. Brian, known as “Bounce”, spent three days in a coma but has now begun his recovery and is home and making progress.
The couple, from nearby Scremerston, were incredibly thankful to all who stepped in to help save Brian, Tracey said.
She added: “I went over and shook him, and he fell over and bumped his head. His face was the darkest blue and it was bright red around his lips and his eyes were glazed over. I used to be a nurse and I could see he wasn’t breathing, and it was very scary.”
“The paramedics did a sterling job taking over the resuscitation though it took several attempts with the defibrillator and five more minutes of chest compressions from a local man called Neil before they finally got a pulse. Several minutes in, his heart stopped again but still they persevered and eventually got it restarted for the second time.”
“As soon as the team from GNAAS arrived they took over from that point and said they were going to sedate him to prevent him thrashing about and get him on the helicopter.
“They had landed on the road, so he was able to be carried but it took several people to lift him.
“I know they don’t tend to let on how bad it is, but they were talking to me and reassuring me, and everyone was fantastic.
“I gave him a little kiss and saw him being placed inside the helicopter before they flew him to hospital.”
Brian has no recollection of what happened, but Tracey will vividly remember those who kept him alive.
She said: “For those two people who helped me perform CPR on my husband’s lifeless body for 15 minutes, the medical professionals have told me that we categorically saved his life, he would not have made it if we hadn’t maintained that level of care in those vital moments.
“I would like to say the most heartfelt thank you to the amazing GNAAS crew, NEAS paramedics, HM Coastguard, the police and a couple members of the public who came selflessly to my assistance.”
Alan Stewart, a paramedic based at Berwick, said: “We don’t often hear of what happened to patients post our care, so I’m delighted to hear that Brian is still with us and making a good recovery. The incident shows the importance of good early CPR from bystanders prior to the arrival of trained medical staff.
“The patient’s wife and other members of the public that assisted did a fantastic job which gave the patient a good chance of survival and recovery.
“They are commended for their actions under difficult circumstances. I would also like to thank all the other services involved – GNAAS, Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team and police.”
Dr Lyle Moncur from GNAAS added: “We are so glad to hear that Bounce is doing well and we were able to play our part in the chain of survival.
“We put him in a medicallyinduced coma to stabilise his condition before flying him to the RVI but it was the combined effort of CPR by his wife and bystanders and early defibrillation by NEAS that ultimately gave him the best chance of survival. Thank you also to the police and coastguard who assisted in this incident.”
Daniel O’Connor, of the coastguard service, said: “All of us at HM Coastguard are very glad to hear that Brian is back at home and making progress with his recovery.
“I commend the actions of Mrs Snell, bystanders, medical staff and the Coastguard Rescue Officers who helped that day.
“I hope Tracey, Brian and Teddy will be back out enjoying our beautiful coastline soon.”
■ GNAAS needs to raise £8.5m a year to remain operational. To find out more about how you can support the charity go online to: www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk
I gave him a little kiss and saw him being placed inside the helicopter before they flew him to hospital Brian’s wife Tracey