Barry man meets the team who saved his life! (From Barry And District News)

Barry man meets the team who saved his life!

4:40pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in News By Sharon Harris

A BARRY-BASED Cardiff City supporter is looking forward to cheering on his beloved Bluebirds again - after an award-winning medical team swung into action to save his life.

45-year-old heart attack survivor Nigel Morgan was at home recovering on July 4, when he suffered a convulsion. His partner Louise McNeill asked if he needed to go to hospital and he shrugged it off as nothing major.

But later that evening Nigel got off the settee to take a tray into the kitchen – and the next thing he knew, he was waking up the next morning at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales.

"I can’t believe things can happen so suddenly,” said Nigel.

"One second I was clearing the tray, next second I was out cold on the floor.

"I have no recollection of anything - everything I know regarding my cardiac arrest has been shared with me by those who saved me."

Partner Louise said they had had a lovely day celebrating her son Callum's seventh birthday, until Nigel hit the floor.

"I immediately picked up the phone, dialled 999 and asked for the ambulance service,” she said.

"I gave them the details and as I did, I could see Nigel turning blue right in front of me. His eyes were still and he let out a groan and suddenly there was this stillness.

"I put the phone on speaker and the ambulance call-taker started giving me instructions to perform CPR. She was fantastic and helped me through the process."

Call-taker Thereza Ross provided CPR instructions and Barry Community First Responder Bryan Foley was alerted.

He contacted fellow CFR Howard Provis, who lives in the next street, and Howard arrived to take over CPR before Bryan joined shortly after.

"Even though I wasn’t on call, it made sense for Bryan to call me as I live close by,” said Howard.

"I was at the house in seconds and found Louise attempting to resuscitate Nigel. "She was doing a great job but was tiring with the effort and emotion, so I continued."

Rapid Response Vehicle paramedic Jon Hubbard soon arrived with a defibrillator, and after further CPR Nigel’s heart began to give an output. Paramedic Robin Petterson and Technician Jo Paskell were also in the area, and call-allocator Alison Paul asked them to take Nigel to the UHW - where he went on to make a full recovery.

The team of two paramedics, one technician, one call-taker, one call-allocator and two Community First Responders were recently awarded the Highly Commended category of the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Gail Williams Award, for their efforts during the incident.

Paramedic Jon Hubbard said: "This was a wonderful example of the ‘chain of survival’ at work.

"From early contact with the ambulance service to the call-taker providing CPR instructions, then the CFRs supporting before I arrived to give defibrillation, and then the call-allocator finding a crew close by to take the patient to hospital.

"It all worked so well and we were able to give Nigel the best possible chance of survival."

Nigel added: "Even though I can remember nothing about the events of that night, I can’t thank Louise, the Welsh Ambulance Service staff and volunteers enough.

"They’ve given me a chance to live a while longer - and hopefully see a few more Cardiff City and Wales matches!

"Louise and Callum have been fantastic looking after me."

* The Welsh Ambulance Service is holding a four-day Community First Responder training course in Barry on the weekends of October 13/14 and October 20/21. Anyone interested in joining the course should contact Barry CFR co-ordinator Bryan Foley on 07734 744861 by tomorrow (October 5)