CPR hero is the reason I’m still kicking around Former footballer reveals charity goal
Former professional footballer John Irvine told how after collapsing on the pitch his life was saved because an off-duty paramedic carried out CPR.
The retired St Johnstone player is now hoping to encourage others to learn how to do the emergency procedure.
John, 59, who was playing with friends, said: “If someone hadn’t been nearby who knew how to carry out CPR, I wouldn’t be here now.
“I got to the footbal l, got changed, played the first half and actually played a blinder.
“As the second half got under way, I kicked the ball into the corner and stepped backwards. At that point it felt as if someone had poured a million gallons of hot water on top of me in one go. That’s the only way I can describe it. I fell to the ground and collapsed.
“The next thing I remember was seeing all these faces looking at me and feeling an excruciating pain in my chest and ribs and thinking, ‘ What on earth has happened to me?’”
John, f rom Newcraighal l , Midlothian, had a sudden cardiac arrest. The paramedic had been playing football on a nearby pitch and ran to help.
John said: “I’ve since met him and he said at first he thought I
was having a stroke, then I just stopped breathing. He said for the next two minutes I was totally gone, then everyone heard what they thought was my last gasp. Thankfully this lad knew how to do CPR. Those minutes he kept work ing on me saved my life.
“I can’t thank him enough. He reacted i n s t a nt l y, h i s instincts kicked in and the CPR he performed kept me alive until the ambulance crew arrived.”
John was taken to hospital where he later had surgery to have an ICD fitted, which will detect any irregular heart rhythm and shock it back to normal. Sixteen months on, he feels fit and well and has returned to playing the sport he loves.
He’s become an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation to encourage others to learn CPR using the charity’s free digital tool, RevivR. Early CPR and defibril lation can more than double the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest out of hospital.
John, who is married to Linda and is dad to daughters Chanelle, 29, and Natalya, 22, said: “I know I’m one of the lucky ones. I hear people wishing their lives away and hoping to win the lottery. I say to them I’ve already won the lottery – no money could replace being alive.”
John, who was just three when he lost his dad to a heart attack, had previously been diagnosed with coronary heart disease and had a quadruple bypass. At the time of his cardiac arrest, he had no concerns about his heart. According to BHF figures, just one in 10 of these people survive, often because those around them don’t have the skills or confidence to perform CPR. There are about 3100 out- of- hospital cardiac arrests in Scotland each year.
The BHF’s RevivR tool takes just 15 minutes to learn and all that is needed is a mobile phone and a firm cushion to practise on.
David McColgan, head of BHF Scotland, said: “John’s story shows just how important learning CPR is and we’re so grateful to have his support. Every second counts when someone has a cardiac arrest. It takes 15 minutes to learn with RevivR. It could be the most important lesson you ever learn.”
I’ve already won the lottery. No money can replace being alive