A young woman from Maidstone has been reunited with the ambulance team who helped save her life ahead of her the anniversary of her suffering a cardiac arrest.
Frankie Turner, now 27, was joined by husband, Nathan, when she visited the South East Coast Ambulance Service team at Paddock Wood Make Ready Centre recently.
And the couple are now calling for everyone to take the time to learn CPR and how to save a life.
Nathan was quick to begin CPR in the minutes before ambulance crews arrived at the couple’s home in the early hours of 29 December last year. Nathan was quick to follow the clear instructions of Emergency Medical Advisor, Maddie Jarvis-White, and called on the CPR training he had received while serving in the Army.
Mum to now two-year-old daughter Phoebe, Frankie is awaiting the results of genetic testing which could establish the cause of her cardiac arrest. In the meantime, and having been fitted with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) – which she has named ‘Dot.’
Frankie will celebrate her ‘re-birthday’ with family and friends later this month and also held a ‘CPR party’ earlier this year where people could practice resuscitation on a manikin.
On the night of her collapse, as Nathan continued CPR, help was arranged by SECAmb dispatcher, Alex Scott. First to arrive at the scene was ambulance crew, Matthew Chambers and Gina Barker shortly before Emily Caudron-Lisle and Cydney Brown. The two crews began advanced life-support before being joined at the scene by Critical Care Paramedic Ed Hyson and Operational Team Leader, Angela Weir. The team worked together, delivering a total of three shocks with a defibrillator to bring Frankie’s heart back into a normal rhythm.
Frankie was sedated before being taken to Maidstone Hospital where she spent 10 days being treated and recovering.
Frankie said: “I’m just so grateful. The whole team was just incredible. Obviously, I don’t remember anything from the night but I am so pleased that we were able to come and meet the team to say thank you in person. It was great to see the faces of everyone who helped me. I will never forget what they did.”
Emergency Medical Advisor, Maddie, praised Nathan’s efforts. She said: “Nathan was amazing. He just did everything I asked of him, which was vital and should be really proud.”
Nathan said: “I was so relieved when Matthew and Gina and then everyone turned up. They were angels in disguise. They were all so calm, caring and professional from the moment they arrived. We and our family and friends will be forever thankful for everything they did.”
Critical Care Paramedic, Ed said: “It was great to meet with Frankie and Nathan and see Frankie looking so well. The whole incident was a perfect example of the chain of survival in action, starting with Nathan calling 999 and beginning vital CPR. The whole team worked really well together. On behalf of everyone I would like to wish them, their family and friends all the very best for the future.”
Frankie and Nathan are planning on taking part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April to raise money for charities, Cardiac Risk in the Young, (CRY) and Combat Stress.
Anyone who would like to make a donation for their efforts can visit Francesca Turner is fundraising for Cardiac Risk in the Young (justgiving.com) or