Hero’s shock at text from man he thought had died

● Fireman’s efforts saved motorist after heart attack

A fireman was amazed to receive a thank-you text from a man he thought had died.

Chris Kendall, a former CPR instructor, battled for 15 minutes to save heart attack victim Allan Hainey but was later told by police he had passed away.

So Mr Kendall, 32, was stunned when, five months later, he got a text from Mr Hainey thanking him for helping to save his life.

Now both men have called for more members of the public to learn life-saving CPR.

Mr Kendall was driving on the A1 in Berwickshire in June when he spotted Allan being dragged from his car.

Mr Hainey had suffered a myocardial infarction so severe that it created three holes in his heart.

Mr Kendall, who was living in Kincardine at the time, gave chest compressions to Mr Hainey.

But when Mr Kendall asked police about Mr Hainey, they told him the motorist had died.

In fact, Mr Kendall’s CPR had helped keep Mr Hainey alive and the Police Scotland IT worker spent 52 days in hospital recovering and having a pacemaker fitted.

As soon as he was well enough, he obtained Mr Kendall’s mobile number and texted: “Hi Chris, my name is Allan Hainey. On the evening of Sunday 25 June this year I had ‘a bit’ of a heart episode near the A1 and Cove village.

“You stopped, assisted and, by all accounts from the doctors and surgeons at Edinburgh Infirmary (sic), saved my life.

“My wife, family and myself will be forever grateful. I went through a bit in the hospital, but I’m out and about and doing very well.”

Mr Kendall, a fire brigade operational training manager, said getting the text was “the best news ever. I thought he was dead, I was informed by the police that he had passed.

“So I couldn’t stop smiling when I got his message. I was so excited because you never really know if you’ve done it properly.

“I was jumping up and down. I couldn’t be happier that he’s alive.

“I would urge everyone to go and undertake formal training. You can walk into any fire station and with the help of a DVD and a dummy you walk out knowing how to do CPR.”

Mr Hainey said: “If it wasn’t for Chris I wouldn’t have made it.

“I died twice in the ambulance on the way to hospital in Edinburgh and without Chris resuscitating me I was told my chances of survival were zero per cent.”