‘You saved my life – I can’t thank you enough’
Cardiac arrest victim Susan delighted to meet the paramedics who came to her rescue
A GRANDMOTHER has told of her delight at meeting the paramedics who saved her life when she was ‘effectively dead’.
Susan Sheppard, 62. suffered a cardiac arrest while out shopping with her four-year-old grandson.
Paramedic Justin Hurst, one of the first on the scene, said: ‘She had no pulse and was effectively dead’.
Now on the road to recovery, Susan said: ‘I can’t thank them enough. Without their actions I wouldn’t be here.’
LESS than two months after being described as ‘effectively dead’, a woman has had the opportunity to meet and thank the paramedics who saved her life.
On April 24 Susan Sheppard, 62, collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest in the Help 4 Special Children shop on Copnor Road while out shopping with her four-year-old grandson.
Paramedic Justin Hurst, 27, was one of the first on the scene.
‘Susan had stopped breathing for several minutes. She had no pulse and was effectively dead,’ he said.
Now on the road to recovery, Susan got the opportunity to thank the paramedics who brought her back from the brink.
After an emotional embrace, Susan said: ‘I’m so pleased I got to see the paramedics and thank them in person – I can’t thank them enough. Without their actions I wouldn’t be here with my daughter or have the opportunity to see my grandson grow up.’
After Susan’s heart stopped it was a race against time to prevent her from dying.
It was only a fortunate series of circumstances that led to her survival.
Paramedic Celine McCague, 38, said: ‘We had literally just drove past the shop on the way to another job when we got the call to divert. It meant we were on the scene in two minutes. This was crucial as every second counts.’
Despite fate being on her side, Susan was in a perilous state when the ambulance arrived.
Emergency care assistant Natalie Andrews, 48, said: ‘When we arrived she was on her side and showed no signs of life.’
Fortunately, Susan responded
to three shocks from the defibrillator and was rushed to Queen Alexandra Hospital for further treatment.
Two months on Susan is back to good health and has returned to walking her dogs.
Susan said: ‘The paramedics do such an amazing job and I don’t think they are appreciated enough.’
Celine replied: ‘It is brilliant to see her looking so well. This is not often the case with someone who suffers a cardiac arrest outside hospital.’
Daughter Kim Piper, 33, is now looking to raise money to support the hospital by cutting off her hair.
Kim said: ‘I owe these guys everything. Without the hospital staff my mum wouldn’t be here.’