New Year, new skills: cardiac arrest survivor backs London Ambulance Service life-saving campaign
A man who beat the odds to survive a cardiac arrest has been reunited with the London Ambulance Service team who saved his life.
And as the New Year begins, he is urging people to learn life-saving CPR skills.
Jeremy Hall collapsed at his home in north west London in the early hours of the morning last summer. He was 59 at the time.
His wife called 999 while his son began chest compressions. Call handler Aminah Turay guided his son over the phone, calmly explaining how much pressure to use and how fast to push.
Paramedics arrive within minutes
Paramedic Steve Hickman arrived within minutes of the 999 call and delivered the first shock from a defibrillator. Jeremy required two further shocks before a normal heart rhythm was restored.
Paramedics Tim Weekes, Reinaldo Milani, Michael Bush, Elena Venturi and advanced paramedic Andrew Parker quickly joined Steve at the scene as he worked to save Jeremy’s life.
At an emotional reunion Jeremy told the team: “Thank you. You have given me a second chance at life and I am so grateful. I am so lucky.”
Everyone has a role
Elena said: “We train for serious emergencies like this and so when it happens, everyone has a role.
“There will be one or two people doing CPR, one has the defibrillator, one person manages the airway and one person is responsible for administering the drugs, such as adrenalin.”
Tim added: “We call it the pitstop model – everyone knows what to do and what their part is and it’s pretty amazing especially when the outcome is a good one – which is sadly quite rare.”
CPR saved my life
Fewer than one in 10 people survive a cardiac arrest.
Jeremy said: “CPR saved my life. If my son hadn’t started chest compressions straight away, I wouldn’t be here, heading into another new year.
“Learning CPR could save someone you love – I hope people make 2026 the year they learn these simple skills. It can be the difference between life and death.”
Jeremy is now supporting the London Ambulance Service’s London Lifesavers campaign, which encourages people to learn CPR and how to use a defibrillator.
Paramedic Steve said: “What happens in the minutes before we arrive can be the difference between life and death. Jeremy’s son was outstanding and gave his dad the best possible chance.
“Meeting Jeremy again was incredibly emotional. We rarely see the people we have cared for after we leave them at hospital but seeing him smiling before us reminds us why we do this job.”
Why this job matters
Call handler Aminah added: “It’s rare for a call handler to meet someone they helped save, so seeing Jeremy was overwhelming.
“You guide a family through the worst moment of their lives, but meeting the person afterwards – and seeing how loved they are – really brings home why this job matters.”
Soon after recovering Jeremy was able to celebrate his eldest son’s 30th birthday and a few months later he celebrated his own 60th.
Jeremy said: “Every milestone, and every new year, feels like a gift. I’m grateful every single day to the people who gave me this greatest gift.”
With most cardiac arrests happening at home, London Ambulance Service is encouraging everyone to learn simple life-saving skills through its London Lifesavers scheme.
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