A father from County Durham has described how what he thought was heartburn turned out to be a heart attack that he was fortunate to survive. Philip Raw was at home with his son, Thomas, when he began to feel chest pain, but initially dismissed it as nothing serious.
However, the 16-year-old quickly realised something was seriously wrong with his dad and dialled 999 for an ambulance. Shortly after the first ambulance crew arrived, Philip's condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest, requiring CPR to save his life.
Only one in 10 people survive to go home from hospital following a cardiac arrest, and every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by around 10%. Thanks to the prompt actions of his son and the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) team, Philip has now made a good recovery.
Son's instinct to call 999
Philip told how he was at home in Sedgefield, County Durham, on August 5 this year when he began experiencing chest pain. He explained: "I initially thought it was heartburn and took a tablet, but when the pain came back, I knew something wasn't right. That's when I asked Thomas to phone an ambulance.
"I remember him speaking to the health advisor and answering questions. The pain was getting worse and I just kept asking how long they would be."
Thomas said: "I think instinct just kicked in when Dad became unwell and I knew I needed to call 999. I tried to stay calm, listen to what the health advisor was telling me and answer their questions so we could get Dad the right help as quickly as possible.
"When the ambulance arrived, I went outside so the crew could see where they needed to go. I'm just glad I was there and able to help Dad when he needed me."
Health advisor praises Thomas
Health advisor Marina Block, who took Thomas's 999 call, said: "Chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack, so it's important to call 999 if you think someone is seriously unwell and follow the advice you're given. Thomas did a brilliant job. He stayed on the line, listened carefully and helped us make sure his dad got the help he needed."
Philip added: "When Thomas said the ambulance crew had arrived, he ran out to get them and that's when I collapsed. I believe that's when my heart stopped and the crew started CPR."
Paramedic Adam Hall, who was part of the first ambulance crew on scene alongside apprentice ambulance support practitioner (ASP) Emily Thomas and student paramedic Eleanor Toogood, said: "Philip had suffered a heart attack and, shortly after we arrived, his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest.
"We immediately started CPR and lifesaving treatment to give him the best possible chance of survival. Every second counts in a cardiac arrest, so recognising it and starting treatment quickly is incredibly important."
Crew supports Thomas during rescue
As the team worked to save Philip's life, they also supported Thomas. Philip said: "One of the ambulance crew took Thomas into the back room, away from where I was, so he didn't have to see them working on me. The crew were very helpful and kept praising Thomas."
Ambulance support practitioner (ASP) Elizabeth Jackson, who arrived as part of the second ambulance crew alongside paramedic Oliwia Malecka, said: "It must have been an incredibly frightening experience for Thomas, but despite everything happening around him, he showed remarkable bravery and maturity.
"It was a real privilege to be there for him and his dad, and we're incredibly proud of the part he played that evening."
Philip's care continued at James Cook University Hospital and he has since made a good recovery, getting back to enjoying everyday life, spending time with his family and going on holiday together. He has now been reunited with the team that saved his life.
Paramedic Oliwia Malecka said: "We wanted to recognise the important part Thomas played that evening in getting help for his dad. It was lovely to meet them both again in very different circumstances and see Philip doing so well.
"We don't always get to see our patients again after an incident like this, so bringing everyone back together was really special."
Philip Raw added: "I just want to thank them for saving my life and for the work they do every day. I'm so grateful to them all. If I'm honest, I try not to think about it because I realise how lucky I was. If it wasn't for my son Thomas and the ambulance crews, I wouldn't be here to tell my story."
CPR can help maintain blood flow to vital organs following a cardiac arrest and takes just a few minutes to learn. Find out how to learn CPR on the NEAS website.
