1 February 2011
A man
shocked back to life three years ago when his heart stopped beating
at London Bridge rail station gave a talk to dozens of Londoners at
a special event last week.
Steve Hodder, now 58, was boarding his train
home in June 2007 when he suffered a cardiac
arrest.
Network Rail Duty Manager Eddie McDermott, who
was trained in basic life support by the London Ambulance Service,
used a public-access defibrillator housed in his workplace, to shock
Steve back to life while someone called 999 for an ambulance.
Steve said: “It was a life-changing
experience. Every time I go through London Bridge I go and see the
defibrillator. My family and I will always be very grateful for
what everyone did for me.”
Steve was talking at a London
Ambulance Service public event about emergency
heart care in the capital. The meeting was held on the
29th floor of Guy’s Tower, Southwark, in the impressive
Roben Suite.
Paramedic Sarah Barrow, one of the ambulance
crew that treated him, and Emergency Medical Dispatcher Claudette
McNoughton, who took the 999 call, also attended.
Medical Director Fionna Moore spoke at the
event about how the London Ambulance Service has worked to improve
the out-of-hospital, cardiac arrest survival rate by almost ten
times since 1999.
Director of Corporate Services Sandra Adams
said: “We hope this event gave Londoners an opportunity to find out
more about the positive work we’re doing with emergency heart care
in the capital, and to get involved with the Service.
“This is the first in a series of free public
events we’re holding. Future events will focus on stroke, major
trauma and other aspects of the care we give to patients.”
To find out more about how to get involved with the Service, and
to sign up to our free newsletter, please call 0800 7311 388 or
become
a member.
- Ends -
Notes to editors:
- For further information about this news release please contact
the communications department on 020 7783 2286.
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