Golden celebrations enjoyed by a Tadworth man this year might never have happened if not for the rapid actions of a SECAmb crew.
“If they hadn’t been so quick with their response, and fast at their job, I wouldn’t have made it,” said Peter Flanders. “I’m very grateful to everybody who helped me that day.”
“The whole event was so memorable and certainly would never, ever have happened but for the timely intervention of Clare and Tara on that February evening five years ago,” he said.
In 2020, Clare Stoner and Tara McMillan-Walsh responded to Peter’s 999 call and quickly realised he was suffering a myocardial infarction, or heart attack, where blood flow to the heart is blocked, as well as supraventricular tachycardia, a condition where the heart beats unusually fast.
“We transmitted the ECG to St George’s Hospital Coronary Care Unit, who accepted him, so we began immediate transport there,” said Tara. “En route, St George’s called us back and requested we divert to the local emergency department at Epsom Hospital.”
Peter’s heart rate had risen to dangerously high levels, requiring stabilisation.
‘Every minute was crucial’
“It’s really rare for St George’s to call back and request we divert to another hospital,” said Clare. “I’ve been in the job for 26 years and I’ve never had that before, or since. Every minute was crucial, another 20 minutes to reach St George’s could have resulted in a different outcome.”
Peter spent time at Epsom Hospital and then St George’s as he made his recovery.
“Peter sent us a three-page letter on A4 paper six months after the incident, thanking us and updating us on how he was doing. I was really touched, I’ve never been sent a letter that long, it was very heart-warming,” said Tara.
Peter was thrilled to finally meet the crew again in person at Banstead Make Ready Centre. He said it was hard to pick his favourite moment from the last five years.
"It's nice to have the five years to look back on," he said. "So much has happened."
His eighth grandchild was born 10 months after his emergency, and last year he booked a large holiday home in Somerset to have all his family around him as he celebrated his 70th birthday.
“A huge thank you to SECAmb and our NHS for giving me these extra wonderful years,” he added. “It’s nice to get to meet the people who saved your life. If not for you, I wouldn’t be here otherwise. It’s trying to find ways to say thank you.”
“The biggest thanks is knowing that you’re still out there, still tending your garden, being with your family, enjoying life. Knowing that you’re doing all that, it reminds us why we joined the ambulance service,” said Clare.