The quick thinking of a 22 year old woman helped save her father’s life when she stepped in to give emergency first aid after he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Sophie Swan rang emergency services and immediately started CPR and within four minutes emergency crew arrived.
Emergency medical technician Adrian Sands and his colleagues praised Sophie, who has had no formal first aid training, for the actions that helped save her dad’s life.
He said: “We go to so many people who do not try CPR when someone is cardiac arrest. However, Sophie was spot on and did really well and had the confidence to get on the chest and do something.
“That is why his recovery has been so good.”
The Ely father of three has enjoyed an emotional reunion with the ambulance staff and volunteers for giving him what he said was a “second chance” after saving his life six months ago.
Peter Swan said January 13 would forever be his second birthday when he was resuscitated after suffering a cardiac arrest at home in Ely.
The 52-year-old is on course to make a full recovery, has since had a defibrillator implanted in his chest and is looking forward to becoming a grandfather later this summer.
However, because of the amnesia he suffered following his collapse, his daughter Emma had to tell him seven times she and her partner were having a baby.
He said: “I am eternally grateful. It was totally unexpected and not wanted, but this has given me a second chance and I have a second birthday.
“It has been a very slow recovery and I realise it is a long road, but I’m alive and that is the main thing.”
His wife Julie added: “It was amazing to have so much care there. It was a terrifying experience, but I knew he was getting the best possible treatment. I am so grateful.”
The computer salesman was saved thanks to the quick thinking of his daughter, Sophie, who called 999 and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the fast response of community first responders (CFR), East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) and East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) staff,
Mr Swan had returned home from a run on January 13 when he started getting chest pain and collapsed at about 7.45pm.
Within four minutes of the 999 call, Claire Taylor and David Clarke from Ely CFRs were on scene, closely followed by Amber Bradbury and Jake Fretwell in an ambulance.
Adrian Sands and Jacqueline Hayward, attended in another ambulance, followed by duty locality officer Matt Sharp in a response car and Dr Nathan Howes and Critical Care Paramedic Tim Daniels from EAAA.
After eight shocks from a defibrillator, they resuscitated Peter who was taken by land ambulance to Papworth Hospital where he had surgery to repair a blocked artery.
His first memory following the emergency was waking up in hospital eight days later. He was discharged 13 days after his cardiac arrest.
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