FIRST AID FAMILY
They save THREE lives in FOUR years with CPR
AN entire family trained in CPR after witnessing a tragedy and have saved three lives in four years.
Mel Sharp, 40, and partner Stuart Fairclough, 46, committed themselves to acting fast to save lives after the death of a worker on their holiday village site five years ago – despite the use of CPR.
Their enthusiasm now spans three generations, with daughter Leah, 14, carrying out training courses, and Miss Sharp’s mother Catherine, 65, getting involved.
The mother of two now wants life-saving skills to be taught in schools.
In October 2016, her son Steven, now aged 20, tried to save the life of a worker at their family’s business, Burrowhead Holiday Village, in Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, by performing CPR.
Mr Fairclough ran to call 999, but the man could not be saved.
The family raised money for training and a defibrillator for the holiday village, which they got in 2017.
Just weeks later, Miss Sharp found herself using the defibrillator to save the life of a family friend after she collapsed outside a bar. She said: ‘Stuart’s ex-motherin-law, Jan Lowther, visited the park and
‘It can happen to anyone’
collapsed only metres from the defibrillator. Luckily I was nearby and started immediate CPR. The defib was applied and a shock administered.
‘Early CPR and early defibrillation saved her life. Jan spent a long time recovering but now tends to the flowers at the holiday park.’
In September 2019, Steven went to the aid of a GP desperately trying to revive the life of a man in his 30s who collapsed in the street, helping to save him.
And Catherine Sharp managed to restart the heart of a swimmer who was in distress during the Great North Swim on Windermere, Cumbria, last month.
Miss Sharp said: ‘To be honest it’s all a bit crazy that as such a small family we have all had to perform CPR in the community.
‘These people were not particularly old, which just highlights that it can happen to anyone at any time.’
She added: ‘I’m very proud. I got a commendation from the Royal Lifesaving
Society and my mum will now as well.’ The family has also received praise from Lucky2BHere, a charity which is championing the provision of defibrillators and emergency life support training.
Miss Sharp now urges everyone to learn CPR and even thinks it should be taught to children from a young age. She said: ‘Children should be taught CPR at school. I knew it from the age of six years old just because my mum taught it across multiple sites in West Yorkshire.
‘Everyone should know how to administer CPR and where their nearest defibrillator is situated in case of an emergency.
‘People think it won’t happen to them, but then take a look at us. Other than our 14-year-old daughter Leah, we have all had to do it for real.
‘Leah hopes she never has to complete the family CPR path but has had training and is highly proficient just in case.
‘However, with three lives saved in four years, we are very proud as a family.’