Craig Harris

“It was just a normal morning. I sat down and had breakfast with my wife. If someone told me what was about to happen to me, I would never have believed them.” Craig Harris

On 5^th April 2019, Craig Harris suffered a cardiac arrest at his workplace at Stanmore Industrial Estate in Bridgnorth, aged 44.

Captain Tim Jones, Dr Adam Low, critical care paramedic Kerry Penn-Ashman and Dr Mike Prosser, a Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical trainee were deployed to the incident from our RAF Cosford airbase.

Dr Adam Low said: “Craig’s story reinforces the importance of bystander CPR as his work colleagues who were trained first aiders had started chest compressions immediately and attached an automated external defibrillator. We continued their hard work and delivered nine shocks in total to get his heart back into a normal rhythm.

“Throughout our efforts, Craig was showing signs of consciousness, which presented an additional challenge but reassured us that if we could stabilise him, he may have a good outcome.”

To enable the aircrew to take over his breathing and keep him in a stable condition, Craig was given an anaesthetic and transferred directly to the Cardiac Angiography Suite at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton where he received treatment for a blockage in one of his main coronary arteries.

In October 2019, Craig went to visit the aircrew that attended his incident at our RAF Cosford airbase.

Dr Adam Low added: “We were honoured to meet Craig, his parents, wife and sons when they visited us on base. He looked very well and was back at work! This case epitomises the reason I do this job and the importance of the fundraising efforts of the charity and all those who generously support it. I wish Craig and his family all the very best in the future.”

Craig said: “It was overwhelming to meet the aircrew; it was quite emotional for me and my family to go and say thank you. They were brilliant, as were the hospital team at New Cross Hospital.

“Physically I’m good, I’m healthy, it’s the emotional scarring now. I was 44, quite active and in a physical job, I couldn’t get my head around why this happened to me.

“Something like this makes you appreciate everything, especially the little things.”

Craig’s incident highlights how immediate bystander support can give a patient the best possible outcome and increase their chances of survival before the arrival of advanced clinical care teams.

If you would like to find out more about how your workplace could benefit from our lifesaving CPR and Bleed Control Mission Support training either in person or virtually please email training@midlandsairambulance.com