A former patient who suffered several cardiac arrests is now back playing the sport he loves and winning tennis tournaments thanks to quick actions of two bystanders and South East Coast Ambulance (SECAmb) clinicians.
Nick Lade, 76, from Seaford, recently shared a remarkable update on his recovery following a cardiac arrest, highlighting the lasting difference ambulance teams make to patients and their families.
On 20 July 2024, Nick was playing in the Seaford and Blatchington Lawn Tennis Club’s finals match when he started experiencing chest pain before collapsing and stopped breathing. Two members of the tennis club jumped into action, calling 999 and starting CPR.
Among the SECAmb clinicians involved in Nick’s care were Student Paramedics, Amie-Rose King and Kirk Collison, Paramedic Rachel Pratt, Operational Team Leader (OTL) Kirsty Taylor and Advanced Paramedic Practitioner (APP) Thomas Langford.
After previously reuniting with the team at Polegate Make Ready Centre last year to personally thank them for saving his life, Nick recently got back in touch with another piece of good news.
He said: "I recently played in my club's annual tennis finals and am pleased to report that alongside my doubles partner, Ann Gale, we won the mixed doubles final for the over 60s."
Reflecting on how far he has come since his cardiac arrest, he added:
"My family and I were pleased that I was actually able to enter the tournament, which we all recognise was due to the actions of some of my fellow club members and those who came to my aid from SECAmb in 2024. Two years ago, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to play tennis again, let alone winning a tournament. The difference you make is truly amazing."
His achievement is a powerful reminder of the impact of the care, skill and dedication shown by ambulance colleagues every day, helping patients not only survive life-threatening emergencies but return to the activities and people they love.
Head of Operations at Polegate, Julie-Marie Allsopp-West commented: "Nick's experience highlights what's possible when people receive the right care at the right time. Seeing someone return to an active life almost two years after a cardiac arrest is a powerful reminder of the difference our teams can make.”