Steven's Story

Steven had suffered a heart attack in 2016 and added: “I had an inclination of what could be happening and had an overall feeling of worry. I really didn’t feel good at all.

“I went to sit on the sofa and just wait for the ambulance to arrive, and that’s the last I remember as I passed out, like a light switch being turned off.”

Geraldine takes up the story: “I knew he wasn’t well and when he started complaining of pains in his chest, I actually called 999 a second time as I could see what was happening.

“I’d gone into the kitchen and by the time I had returned, Steven was slumped on the sofa. I called for the ambulance again and, at the same time, ran around to my neighbour Jane for assistance.

“The call handler said we had to start CPR and between Jane and I, we managed to get Steven down off the sofa and she immediately began giving him CPR. Jane told me to run and get the defibrillator from the village, when at the time I didn’t even know there was one there.

“I ran up there, collected it and then stopped a car passing by and asked them to drive me back to the house as it was an emergency. Thankfully Jane is a carer and has had some training, albeit a long time ago, but she knew what to do with the defibrillator and just took charge.

“CPR is exhausting so Jane and I took turns. I could feel there was some resistance with him and he was making some gasps, but the call handler kept telling us ‘that’s not a real breath, you’ve got to keep going’.

“Then we heard the helicopter overhead and we rushed to the back door and saw them circling.

Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity critical care doctor David Connor and critical care paramedic Dan Tucker were flown to the scene by pilot Simon Gough.

Doctor David said: “Cardiac arrests are a matter of life and death, where seconds matter. Getting to scene, we knew Steven was desperately unwell. Steven’s wife, her neighbour and the ambulance crew had done an amazing job at getting Steven’s heart to beat again - this is when we took over to stabilise him and ensure he got to hospital safely.

“Our teams can deliver an emergency anaesthetic to Steven, utilising powerful medicines to keep his blood pressure and other observations safe.

Steven was flown to Southampton General Hospital in a matter of minutes, while Geraldine called her son to drive her.

She said: “I didn’t rush because I knew there was nothing more I could do, and I knew he was in the best possible hands.

“As we were heading down to Southampton the hospital rang and there was a moment of fear about what they could say. Thankfully they told me he was critical but stable after having surgery.”

Steven says he has been ‘hunky dory’ since then, although he is taking things a little steadier.

“For the heart attack in 2016 I had five stents put in and following the incident in May, I’m now up to seven stents. I don’t know how many more I can have, so I’m taking things easier.

“All the trauma I’ve encountered does little the amount of physical work I can do. I get tired very easily. I work as a builder, specialising with heritage sites, but I’ve got a great team of lads around me and I’ve handed things over so I’m doing less of a physical role.”

Steven and Geraldine visited the airbase in July 2024 to meet Dr David and learn more about the day.

Geraldine said: “When I heard David’s voice again, it just brought me back to that moment. I have enormous gratitude; no one could do what they did.”

Steven said: “My appreciation for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity and how it operates is a quantum leap forward. Seeing the map in the crew room of the area they cover, finding out how quickly they can get to the scene of an incident, it’s astonishing.

“They take the A&E department to the patient because there are times when the patient can’t get to A&E. There’s just simply not enough time.

“The equipment the aircrew has access to and the procedures they can carry out makes all the difference between life and death.

“David was a lovely, warm individual and we were awestruck meeting him. He was very quick to point out he was very much part of a team.

“It’s another chance of life, how do you quantify that? It’s priceless – but for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity it costs over £13,000 a day to carry out their service.

“The service is for anybody and it’s amazing that much money is found from people putting their hands in their pockets.

“We’re an enormous advocate for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity and neighbourhood defibrillators now – we tell everyone about them. Who knows when you may need them.”