Off-duty nurse saves man 'minutes from death' in cardiac arrest

A man who was "minutes from death" after suffering a cardiac arrest in the street has made a "miraculous" recovery after an off-duty nurse stepped in to help save him, a hospital says.

Mike Brereton, 61, was walking along High Street in Tarporley when he suffered a "massive heart attack" that sent him into a cardiac arrest.

Among those who rushed to help him was Lauren Wall, who was returning home from a night shift at the Countess of Chester Hospital and said it was "just miraculous" that he had survived such a major out-of-hospital health incident.

She said she had dealt with cardiac arrests at work frequently but it was "a little bit daunting" to do it without the support of colleagues.

Brereton, a retired Airbus manager, was doing his regular 8km to 10km (five to six-mile) Saturday morning walk when he collapsed outside a gym on the High Street at about 09:00 BST on 12 September.

He said he did not recall feeling unwell beforehand, "just what felt like a bit of indigestion", adding he was relatively fit and did 10,000 steps a day and followed a good diet.

"I was in the right place at the right time," he said.

He said there was a defibrillator nearby, with people around him who knew what to do and, importantly, remained calm.

"I can't thank everyone enough for what they did for me that day," he added.

Wall, who was returning home from her job as deputy ward manager on the acute medical unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital, said she quickly realised Brereton was not breathing and immediately took charge, performing CPR, managing his airway and coordinating lifesaving efforts until the arrival of paramedics.

He was then airlifted to Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, where he underwent an emergency angioplasty and had a stent fitted.

"I think I started to feel emotional when I was checking Mike's wallet for signs of identification and I saw on his driving licence that his birth date was the same as my mum's," said Wall.

"That's when the reality of the situation hit home".

The 35-year-old said she "fully expected Mike not to make it or at least have suffered a brain injury, so being able to see him fully recovered is just incredible".

Brereton said he wrote to the Countess of Chester Hospital to thank Wall and he was reunited with her less than eight weeks after she saved his life.

"The first hug seeing Lauren again was powerful," he said.

"Everyone there played a part, but Lauren's professionalism, calmness and ability to take control in such a critical situation undoubtedly saved my life."

He has also thanked the other people who stepped in to help him that day.

A Countess of Chester Hospital spokesperson said: "Incredibly, despite the severity of his cardiac arrest and the odds stacked against him, Mike made a remarkable recovery and was discharged home within days, with Lauren's swift actions playing a crucial role in saving his life."

Wall has been awarded a Countess of Chester Hospital Patient Choice Award in recognition of her bravery and actions.

Wanting to give back, Brereton has raised more than £7,000 so far for the North West Air Ambulance Charity after signing up for its 62-mile fundraising walk.

He also thanked the cardiac rehab team at the Countess of Chester Hospital who have been supporting him during his recovery.

Wall said she hoped his story would also encourage more people to learn lifesaving skills, because "in an emergency, it's often the actions taken in those first few minutes that can make all the difference and give someone the best chance of survival".

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