‘Miracle man’ is back at work after heart scare
A SHOPPING centre worker nicknamed the “miracle man” after surviving a cardiac arrest has thanked his colleagues and the ambulance team who saved his life.
Tony Hurley, a cleaning supervisor at St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff, was in work one morning when he suddenly collapsed.
Carl Thomas, Stan Mann and Kristian Taylor from the centre’s security team quickly rushed to his aid to deliver CPR, as well as using a defibrillator to administer shocks to his heart.
In less than three minutes, they were supported by Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic Jason Griffiths in a rapid response vehicle and ambulance crew members Steve Clee and Rhian Conaghan. Together they were able to get Tony’s heart beating again.
Both Carl and Stan have been trained in lifesaving skills in their role as Community First Responders (CFRs) with the ambulance service.
Deputy security supervisor Carl, who has volunteered with the trust for 12 years, said: “I was actually on my way to deliver a CPR and defibrillator session training on site when a call came over the radio for medical assistance and someone said that Tony had fallen down.
“I immediately noticed he wasn’t breathing so we got a defibrillator on him and started CPR.
“After two rounds of CPR his heart started beating again and the paramedic and ambulance crew continued his treatment.”
Tony was taken to the University Hospital of Wales where he remained in a serious condition and spent time in intensive care.
After this expert care from the critical care team at the hospital, the 66-year-old defied the odds to make a successful recovery.
Tony had stents fitted to improve the blood flow to his heart and has also had an implantable defibrillator placed in his chest, which sends electrical pulses to regulate any abnormal heart rhythms which can cause a cardiac arrest.
Tony has recently returned to work after originally falling ill in September 2016 and expressed his gratitude to those who came to his aid.
He said: “I don’t think I’d be here today if it wasn’t for all their efforts to be honest with you.
“When I came round in hospital the doctor said I was lucky to be alive after what happened – and he called me the miracle man.
“I’d been feeling short of breath for a while before it happened, but had no pains and then I just collapsed one morning.
“I’m feeling great now, though, and I’ve had no problems since, so I’m extremely grateful to everyone who helped me.”
St David’s shopping centre currently has 17 staff members trained as CFRs, who give up their time to attend appropriate 999 calls.
They respond to medical incidents in and around the shopping centre, which attracts approximately 40 million visitors a year, and can provide basic first aid, oxygen therapy, CPR and defibrillation until an ambulance arrives.
Paramedic Rhian, who has been with the ambulance service for 23 years, said: “When we got to the call the first responders at the shopping centre were doing CPR. We continued and managed to get a pulse back and Tony started breathing again.
“Even when we were in the ambulance we weren’t sure how it was going to go, but it was so nice to hear that Tony had recovered and was back in work again.”
The Welsh Ambulance Service is currently preparing to launch its annual ‘Defibuary’ campaign, aimed at raising awareness of where to find your nearest defibrillator.
Tony said: “I think it’s very important for people to make themselves aware. A defibrillator made all the difference for me and it could for someone else too.”
Calls where a patient is unconscious and has stopped breathing are categorised as ‘red’ under the ambulance service’s new clinical response model and have a time target of eight minutes.
The trust is also measured on whether cardiac arrest patients have been successfully resuscitated by the time they arrive at hospital as part of the Emergency Ambulance Service Committee’s Ambulance Quality Indicators.
Director of operations Richard Lee said: “We’re so pleased that Tony has recovered and this highlights how early CPR and defibrillation saves lives.
“Every second counts when somebody goes into cardiac arrest and having trained CFRs on site meant he received the earliest possible assistance.
“Since our new clinical model was introduced, we’ve improved our response to the most critical category of calls and, along with the timely treatment provided by Jason, Steve and Rhian and the hospital staff, this meant Tony survived and is able to share his story with us.”
If you live in south east Wales and would like further information on becoming a CFR, please e-mail amb_ first.responder.south@wales.nhs.uk. To find your nearest public access defibrillator visit http://bit.ly/DefibLocations