A Chichester man who suffered a cardiac arrest at his home is looking forward to walking his daughter down the aisle later this year thanks to his ‘999 heroes’. 

Now 71-year-old, Paul Finch, and his partner of 32 years, Tara, recently visited South East Coast Ambulance Service’s (SECAmb’s) Tangmere Make Ready Centre to meet some of the clinicians that helped save his life where he presented them with a poem acknowledging the incredible work they do every day.

Paul was sat on his sofa on 17 March 2023 when, without warning, he collapsed in cardiac arrest.

Trained in CPR, Tara acted quickly, giving Paul life-saving chest compressions for seven minutes prior to the ambulance crews’ arrival.

Critical Care Paramedic, Lewis Allam, and Paramedic, Joshua Taylor, were first on scene providing advanced life support and administering a what proved to be life-saving shock with a defibrillator.

Lewis said: “The minutes following a cardiac arrest are crucial and Tara’s fast response was critical, giving Paul the best possible chance of survival. After getting a return of spontaneous circulation, Paul started to wake on scene and was even talking which in my experience is rare. A testament to Tara for her quick response and it was lovely to meet them both again and see how well Paul is doing.”

Paul and Tara also met and thanked paramedics, Steve Leggatt, and Ruby Fialho, and Trainee Associate Ambulance Practitioner, Chantelle Phillips, who were also on scene. 

Ruby, who was a student paramedic at the time of the incident, said: “It’s things like this that inspired me to become a paramedic. I wanted to help people and meeting Paul and Tara again was a special reminder of what we do and the difference we make.”

Paul was taken to St Richards Hospital where he required a further two shocks with a defibrillator after rearresting in A&E and then spent a further 26 days recovering, having also contracted sepsis.

Paul said: “I can’t remember anything about that day or the week prior, but I am so grateful to everyone that helped save me. Tara, the ambulance crews and doctors and nurses - because of them, I get to walk my daughter down the aisle this year.

“Surviving a cardiac arrest was eye-opening and I’ve since been focusing on looking after my health. I’m in the best shape of my life now. I can’t thank Tara and the crews that attended enough for what they did for me.”

Tara added: “I’m so glad we got to meet the team who came to help. They were all wonderful and we are both deeply grateful of what they did. As a carer myself, I think it is so important for people to be trained in basic life support as those minutes after a cardiac arrest are so crucial.”

To help save a life, you can find out about CPR courses available in your area by clicking here.