Michael meets marvellous medics
Tuesday, 04 January, 2011
Ambulance crews proved to be a cut above when they attended a man who suffered a heart attack whilst mowing the lawn - and got him back from cardiac arrest soon afterwards.
Just a day after returning from holiday, Michael Goodchild, 71, was at home in North Wootton, Norfolk on September 18 tackling some domestic tasks including the garden and cleaning his car. He began to feel unwell and so wife Pam called 999.
Duty operations manager Steve Segasby was first to respond and immediately realised that Michael's condition was serious. He asked for ambulance back up and also contacted paramedic and fellow DOM Carl Smith, who was nearby, to assist until the crew arrived.
Within a few minutes Hunstanton paramedic Stephanie Hughes and emergency medical technician Mark Collins arrived and while Pam gathered some personal belongings, the crew transferred Michael to the ambulance and stabilised him for the journey to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where he would receive specialist treatment.
But on the outskirts of Norwich, Michael went into cardiac arrest. Stephanie managed to resuscitate him successfully and kept him stable for the rest of the journey. Just 48 minutes after leaving Michael's home, they arrived at the hospital where the specialist team were waiting. Michael then went on to arrest two further times at the hospital.
Recently Michael and Pam met up with the ambulance team who treated him, and could not express their appreciation enough. Carl said: "It was lovely to see Michael and Pam and to see him looking so well. There is nothing more satisfying for us all than seeing a patient make such a remarkable recovery; it makes our job so worthwhile.
