Thursday 11th May 2017 – 9.30am – Claire Brown.
A man who collapsed and fell into a swimming pool was resuscitated thanks to the quick thinking of leisure centre staff in Coventry last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a man in cardiac arrest at Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre, Fairfax Street shortly after 5.00pm (Wednesday). Two ambulances, a paramedic area support officer and a critical care car from The Air Ambulance Service with a doctor on board attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When the first ambulance crew arrived the man was out of the water and had been successfully resuscitated by leisure centre staff after being given CPR and six shocks by their on-site defibrillator.
“The man, who was still in a serious condition, was given advanced treatment by ambulance staff and the medic who stabilised him before he was taken by land ambulance on blue lights to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire; the doctor travelled in the ambulance to continue care en route.
“During the 999 call, it was very apparent that the leisure centre staff knew exactly what to do to help the man. Seeing a patient in cardiac arrest being given CPR is always a positive sight when ambulance staff get to the scene. On this occasion the crew arrived and not only had the man been given CPR and shocks from a defibrillator but he had also been successfully resuscitated.
“The incredibly quick actions of lifeguards and leisure centre staff, who put their life-saving training to the test last night, are immensely commendable and have undoubtedly given the man the very best possible chance of surviving his cardiac arrest.”
ENDS