A grandfather who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest has shared his profound gratitude for being alive to celebrate Christmas with his loved ones, following a life-saving intervention by London paramedics.
A Terrifying Summer Night
The incident occurred on the evening of June 18, as Ken Neville was preparing for bed with his wife, Linda, at their home. Ken collapsed without warning, his heart stopping completely. Linda described him as "gasping for breath" and immediately called for an ambulance.
Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service stationed in Hillingdon arrived at the scene in an impressive six minutes. They swiftly transformed the couple's bedroom into a makeshift emergency room, deploying extensive medical equipment in a desperate bid to restart Ken's heart.
"They Never Gave Up On Him"
Recalling the intense scene, Linda Neville said the crew took total control. "They worked so hard they were soaked in sweat. They never gave up on him," she stated. "They were doing everything in their power to save Ken – it was a scene I will never forget."
Their relentless efforts were successful. Once Ken's heart was beating again, he was rushed to Harefield Hospital, where he underwent a procedure and was fitted with three stents.
A Cherished Christmas Reunion
After a period of recovery, Ken was not only able to return home but was also well enough to enjoy a full Christmas with his family this year—a milestone he feared he would never see.
In a deeply moving gesture, Ken and Linda later met with some of the paramedics who saved his life, including Stephanie Lewis, Samantha Henderson, and advanced paramedic Mike Strutt. Ken told them, "I can't thank you enough. I had never been ill before but now I have never felt better. I am so lucky."
Linda added, "The paramedics’ knowledge, compassion and determination gave us our family back. For us all to be together at Christmas means everything to us."
Clinical Team Manager Sarah Angelou highlighted the significance of such positive outcomes. "We do get to hear outcomes for our cardiac patients and sadly survival rates are low – that’s why meeting Ken in person is so incredibly special," she said. "Hearing that someone is home, recovering and able to enjoy Christmas with their family is exactly why we do this job."
The London Ambulance Service uses stories like Ken's to highlight the importance of public knowledge in cardiac arrest emergencies. They are actively encouraging people across the capital to learn simple life-saving skills through their London Lifesavers scheme, which could help someone like Ken in the future.
