With cardiac arrest survival rates below one in 10, Justin Riordan, a father of three from Rainham, Kent, was determined to express his gratitude to SECAmb colleagues for helping to save his life.
In the early hours of 7 June 2024, Justin’s wife, Lisa, woke to what she thought was Justin snoring extremely loudly. When she tried to wake him, he was unconscious and showing signs of agonal breathing, a distinct abnormal breathing pattern, which can appear as if someone is gasping for air.
Justin, aged 49, had been experiencing chest pain for five days prior but had put it down to indigestion. Lisa immediately rang 999 and spoke with Emergency Medical Advisor, Charlotte Styles, who identified that Justin was in cardiac arrest and quickly coached Lisa on how to perform effective CPR before crews arrived on scene.
Within eight minutes of the 999 call, emergency care support workers, Gina Barker and Antonio Cordara arrived on scene, alongside paramedic, Katie Carter, newly qualified paramedic, Alexa Pearson and operational team leader, Paul Ellis. Together, they took over CPR from Lisa and used a defibrillator to shock Justin’s heart into a regular beat.
After each shock delivered, Justin was slowly regaining consciousness and then re-arresting. Resource dispatcher, Richie Washington allocated critical care paramedic, Edward Hyson to the scene, and, after six shocks, they were able to achieve a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).
The Air Ambulance Charity Kent, Surrey, Sussex joined crews on scene and helped to stabilise Justin before transporting him to Medway Maritime Hospital where he spent two days recovering, before returning to work just one week after coming home.
As part of his recovery journey, Justin and Lisa visited Medway Make Ready Centre in Gillingham to meet Charlotte, Gina, Antonio, Katie, Alexa, Paul and Ritchie to thank them for helping to save his life that night.
Lisa said: “As part of my job I need to be CPR trained, but you never think you will need to use those skills. I was so thankful to have Charlotte coaching me on what to do over the phone and keeping me company while we waited for crews to arrive. Meeting her in person brought all these memories back and I’m so grateful she was on the other end of the phone that night.”
EMA Charlotte said: “Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to 10 per cent. It was so important to me to get Lisa performing effective CPR on Justin as quickly as possible so that we could start the chain of survival, as well trying to comfort her as best as possible through what must have been a terrifying time.”
ECSW Antonio said: “Every time we thought we had got Justin back he kept re-arresting, and so it was a tense scene. Once we did get him back, we were completely astonished that he was able to make conversation with us, something none of us have seen in a cardiac arrest patient before.”
Paramedic Katie said: “It really is a miracle that Justin has fully recovered and came to meet us. Sadly, we don’t often see a success story following a cardiac arrest, and that’s why Justin and Lisa’s visit was so special to us all.”
Justin added: “Words cannot describe what I would like to say about these incredible people. I really wouldn’t be here today without them and my wife Lisa. I’ve really changed the way I think about life now and don’t take anything for granted. I can recall seeing their faces that night and so it was surreal being able to meet them properly and thank them for everything they did.”
NQP Alexa said: “We can’t thank Justin and Lisa enough for taking the time to come and meet us. It really makes a difference being able to meet a survivor and knowing that we had a part to play in him standing here today.”