The family of a Kent man who survived two cardiac arrests is now arranging for their community to learn how to save a life after reuniting with the ambulance crew who brought him back.
John, from Chainhurst in Kent had been go-karting with his family at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex on 30 October 2025 when he began to feel hot, clammy and complained of chest pain.
Seeing John become increasingly unwell, his daughter Charlee called for an ambulance. With an estimated wait time of around 40 minutes and her father’s condition worsening, she made the decision to drive him to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, alongside her mum, Linda.
As Charlee raced into the ambulance bay, John became unconscious and unresponsive in the back of the car. Thankfully two ambulance crews had just become clear after conveying patients and were preparing to go back on the road.
Paramedic, Domantas, Associate Ambulance Practitioner, Lucy and Paramedic, Sarah heard screaming coming from the vehicle and ran over to see what was happening. Dom and Lucy pulled John from the vehicle and begun CPR immediately while analysing his heart rhythm.
After confirming John was in cardiac arrest, Dom delivered one shock and achieved a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Within minutes John was awake and talking. Student Paramedic, Claire, Operational Team Leader, Dan, and Paramedic, Joshua had also arrived to support on scene.
Lucy, Sarah and Claire packaged John and conveyed him by ambulance to St Thomas’ Hospital in London which provides specialist surgery for cardiac patients. During the 25-minute journey, John’s condition deteriorated and he suffered a second cardiac arrest.
With support coordinated by Resource Dispatcher, Praise who was in the Gillingham Emergency Operations Centre, crewmates Ellie and Louise who had just completed a London transfer were deployed to assist at the roadside in Lewisham. The team successfully achieved a second ROSC and safely got John to St Thomas’ where he went on to spent five days in hospital and had two stents fitted to widen the blocked artery.
Exactly 12 weeks to the date, John visited Dartford ambulance station with wife Linda and daughter Charlee to reunite with the team who, alongside his wife and daughter, saved his life.
Determined to ensure others know how to act in an emergency, John’s brother in law has organised a first aid training session at their local village hall, teaching residents how to perform CPR, use a defibrillator and recognise the signs of cardiac arrest.
Associate Ambulance Practitioner Lucy said “John is incredibly lucky to have survived an out of hospital cardiac arrest and I’m privileged to have had the opportunity to reunite with him and his family who ultimately made the decisions needed to ensure he got help as soon as possible.”
Paramedic Domantas said “Seeing John walk into the station well and smiling is special but knowing he’s now been a part of arranging helping others to learn lifesaving skills makes it even more meaningful.”
Charlee said “I got us to Darent Valley Hospital as soon as I could and was so relieved to see the crews were there when we arrived. If this training helps one person step in during an emergency then it really could save a life.”
John added “I wouldn’t be here without my family’s crucial actions of getting me to the hospital and the ambulance team. I know I am very lucky, one in 10 in fact to survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest and so if more people know CPR and how to use a defib then more people could survive.”