Patients and staff reunited in SECAmb’s fourth annual survivors’ event

SECAmb staff and the patients whose lives they’ve saved were given the opportunity to be reunited in better circumstances at South East Coast Ambulance Service’s annual ‘Our Survivors’ event.

Seven patients whose lives were saved by the clinical interventions of SECAmb staff were reunited with their lifesavers on Sunday (21 September) at Hever Castle in Kent. (See below and event booklet for full details).

The event, now in its fourth year celebrated the life-saving skills of SECAmb staff and volunteers, the quick-thinking of those at the scene in beginning treatment and calling 999, the lives of those saved and emphasised the importance of early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for cardiac arrest patients.

A moving short film telling each patient’s story was produced and has been uploaded to youtube. It can be found by searching for ‘Our Survivors 2014’ or by using the following link: http://youtu.be/uc4uhzRcnt0

Each patient and member of the SECAmb team involved in their care was presented with a special memento pin badge.

This year’s event was dedicated to Harry Pickering from Brabourne, near Ashford, Kent, who was due to attend the event, but sadly suffered a second cardiac arrest and died at home in July.

Harry dedicated the four months after his first cardiac arrest to SECAmb’s campaign to install defibrillators in the community. He was instrumental in getting a defibrillator for his own hockey club in Ashford and one for Ashford Golf Club. He sadly died just days before a barbecue at the hockey club where he was raising money for another for his local Community First Responder team.

Harry’s wife Karen was able to attend the event on Sunday in Harry’s memory where she picked up a pin badge in recognition of his achievements. A short video produced in memory of Harry can be found via the following link: http://youtu.be/le-oRUw1Xmg

SECAmb Chief Executive, Paul Sutton said:  “I’m always very moved by our survivors’ events which each year highlight just a small selection of the amazing work which goes on at SECAmb. The event provides a tremendous opportunity for everyone to celebrate the lives which have been saved as well as the dedication and commitment of all our staff, volunteers and members of the public. This year’s event was particularly poignant because of Harry’s story and we were really pleased that Karen could attend to mark his achievements.

“Each and every day our staff and volunteers are saving lives and we wanted to celebrate their highly-skilled work which is carried out in often challenging circumstances and also emphasise the importance of everybody learning life-saving skills and CPR.”

‘Our Survivors’ 2014

Adrian Dance, Partridge Green, West Sussex

Adam Richardson, Eastbourne, East Sussex

Carys Williams, Broadstairs, Kent

Alun Edwards, Guildford, Surrey

Jos Kerkvliet, Little Chart, Kent

Sadie Chapman, Aldershot, Hampshire

Tony Burroughs, Billingshurst, West Sussex

Harry Pickering, Brabourne, Kent