A 15-year-old girl who collapsed in cardiac arrest was reunited with her lifesavers including Tina Shepherd, one of the Trust’s longest-serving EMA coaches who took the 999 call, alongside fire service teams in an emotional reunion recently.
Grace, now aged 16, was out with her group of friends in the local community of Isle of Grain on the evening of 6 March. The group were running through a field when Grace collapsed to the floor in cardiac arrest.
One of her long-time friends, Kavan, put her in the recovery position and called both his and Grace’s mum for help.
With Grace’s mum, Clare, and Kavan’s mum, Sarah, arriving to the field minutes later, they quickly realised Grace was unresponsive and so Clare immediately called 999 and Sarah called a friend who worked at the Isle of Grain Fire Station and then began CPR.
Sarah spoke with Emergency Medical Advisor Coach of 29 years, Tina Shepherd who guided Sarah and her husband, Lee, on how to perform CPR before crews arrived on scene.
Kent Fire and Rescue colleagues arrived on scene and assisted with flood lighting, coverings and the station defibrillator. Together they were able to shock Grace once, before the Kent Fire and Rescue crews recommenced CPR.
SECAmb crews arrived on scene, and were joined by The Air Ambulance Charity, Kent Surrey, Sussex who, together, were able to stabalise Grace and transport her to Kings College Hospital.
Grace woke from sedation on Mother’s Day (10 March), before being transferred to the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London where she was finally discharged 16 days later on 22 March.
Following various tests, it has been revealed that Grace has that rare RYR2 gene which triggers the cardiac muscle to contract, which pumps blood out of the heart. Grace’s family are now all being tested for this gene. As part of her recovery, Grace has had a defibrillator and pacemaker fitted which alerts her to potential abnormalities.
Grace is now at a local college studying art and graphic design and hopes to become a tattoo artist in the near future.
Here at SECAmb, we support the Resuscitation Council UK’s ‘Restart A Heart’ campaign every year. Each year across our region, thousands of young people are taught CPR – a vital skill life skill which aims to take over the job of the heart and lungs by keeping blood and oxygen flowing through the body. For more information on how you can learn this lifesaving skill, click here.
Kavan said: “I quickly put Grace in the recovery position as I thought she might have had a seizure. I remembered my mum had done a CPR course at the local fire station the year prior and so I called her for help.”
Paul Cook at KFRS said: “Sarah called me on my personal mobile and before I could speak, she immediately shouted down the phone at me to bring the station defibrillator as a 15-year-old girl had collapsed in the fields.”
Tina said: “As an EMA we’re ears on and not eyes on. I could hear a lot of distress and chaos in the background but completely zoned out to that and listened intently to Sarah’s description. In these situations, it is pivotal that good-quality CPR is given immediately, and I was so impressed by Sarah that she was able to carry this out successfully.”
Grace’s mum, Clare said: “I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people that were involved in saving Grace. I can’t thank Kavan enough for ringing his mum and getting Grace help. We all now have this special bond.”
Sarah said: “It was only when the fire and ambulance crews took over and I stood back and looked behind me at the sheer number of people involved in getting Grace help. It really was unbelievable, and I’ll never forget that day.”
Grace said: “I can’t remember anything from the day which is probably for the best. It was overwhelming to meet those who were involved in my care and I’m so thankful to them.”
Clare said: “It really took a village to help Grace that night and I am so proud of everyone involved and can’t thank them enough.”
Tina said: “I was so humbled to have the opportunity to meet Grace. It truly was a shining example of teamwork and I’m so proud of everything that was done in order for Grace to be here with us today. It’s when we switch off and go home after our shift that we really begin to think about the outcome of a patient, and it was quite amazing for me to be able to meet Sarah, Clare and Grace, and put faces to their names.”