999 call handler tutor recalls moment she saved her dad’s life on BBC Crimewatch

A 999 call handler tutor at London Ambulance Service has recalled the moment she saved her dad’s life for the iconic BBC One series Crimewatch Live.

As well as featuring active criminal cases, the show also regularly highlights the exceptional stories of people working for the UK’s emergency services.

As well as featuring active criminal cases, the show also regularly highlights the exceptional stories of people working for the UK’s emergency services.

Trainee tutor Estelle Williams featured in Friday’s episode (22 March) of the show, which is now in its 18^th series.

She says: “It’s our job to save lives and we give these instructions on the phone to help people. You know the majority of these life-saving skills off by heart.

“But I never pictured myself actually performing CPR on anybody, especially a loved one.”

Estelle had been asleep after a night shift but woke when she heard her mum screaming at their home in east London.

Estelle rushed to her parents’ room and found her dad Eddie had collapsed while watching TV.

Estelle noticed he was gasping, which is known as agonal breathing, and then he stopped breathing.

She movingly recalls the moment she thought her father had died but still kept giving him chest compressions, also known as CPR.

All call handlers get training in how to do CPR and use a defibrillator and regularly instruct members of the public in these life-saving skills.

The training kicked in automatically for Estelle which meant she was able to keep Eddie’s heart pumping oxygen to the brain, while the family waited for an ambulance.

When the paramedics arrived they used a defibrillator to give two shocks to Eddie’s heart. The second shock re-started his heart.

In the episode, Eddie, now 74, says: “When I came round I saw two paramedics standing there and I was surprised. Then the paramedics said, your daughter just saved your life.

“I was one of the lucky ones. Had it not been for my daughter, I would not be here today.”

London Ambulance Service responds to around 14,000 people in cardiac arrest every year. Fewer than one in 10 survive.

The Crimewatch piece ends with Estelle adding: “Saving someone’s life – what could be a better job than that.

“And I feel that it’s really important people learn these skills because that’s what saved my dad’s life.”

London Ambulance Service runs the London Lifesavers campaign which encourages everyone to learn simple life-saving skills.

It can take just a matter of minutes to learn these skills but could make the difference between life and death for a person in cardiac arrest.

You can learn how to save a life on our dedicated London Lifesavers webpage.

To find out about jobs at London Ambulance Service, visit our Current Vacancies webpage.