Five shocks and immediate CPR helped save a Margate father’s life when his heart stopped, giving him a second chance at survival.

For Lee, this could easily have been a very different story but instead, four months after his heart stopped, he was reunited with the ambulance colleagues who gave him that second chance.

Lee was at home with his wife of 29 years, Manu, on the evening of 30 January 2026 when he began to feel unwell. He had been living with persistent chest pain for weeks and had already sought medical advice but without answers. That night, things took a devastating turn.

In the early hours of 31 January, Manu woke to a sound she instinctively knew wasn’t right. Lee was making what she would later learn were agonal breathing sounds – a sign his heart had stopped. Unable to wake him, she made the 999 call.

Within two minutes, 999 resource dispatcher, Sophie had mobilised help, sending Paramedics, Lois, Troy and Bacher to their home. They were quickly joined by Mark, Ryan, Jessica, Caleb and Joshua. What followed was nearly an hour of lifesaving care, including five defibrillator shocks and chest compressions to keep the blood flowing around Lee’s vital organs.

Critical Care Paramedic, Caleb administered an advanced anaesthetic bundle before Lee was rushed to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, where specialist teams identified and treated a blocked artery. Two stents were fitted, restoring blood flow to his heart.

Just four days later, Lee walked out of hospital and is now back at work. Four months to the day after his cardiac arrest, Lee and Manu visited Thanet Make Ready Centre to meet some of the people who were involved in his care; Dispatcher, Sophie, Paramedics Lois, Mark and Bacher, and Student Paramedic, Ryan.

“I wouldn’t be here without them and I can’t thank them enough” Lee said. “ I also wouldn’t be here without Manu. She knew something wasn’t right and she acted straight away. That call saved my life.”

Survival from cardiac arrest is not just about what happens when ambulance crews arrive.

It starts in those crucial first moments, before help gets there. Early CPR and defibrillation can more than double a person’s chances of survival. Learning CPR takes just 15 minutes with the British Heart Foundation but could give someone a lifetime.

Student paramedic Ryan said “We train for moments like this, but nothing quite compares to meeting someone afterwards and seeing them back with their family. It really brings home why every second counts.”

Don’t wait, because one day, it could be the difference between losing someone and bringing them home. Click here to learn CPR now.

Paramedic Mark added “Cases like Lee’s stay with you. It was a real team effort from the moment the call came in and to see him doing so well now is exactly why we do this job.”