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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/03/nhs-saved-my-life-i-died-in-hotel-car-park-paramedic
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| The day the NHS saved my life: I died in a hotel car park | The day the NHS saved my life: I died in a hotel car park |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| In November 2013, we were on our way to Cornwall from our home in Scotland – as it’s a long way, we decided to stop for the night in Lancaster. We pulled in to the Lancaster Premier Inn car park. I got out of the car, closed the door, walked a couple of steps, collapsed and died. | In November 2013, we were on our way to Cornwall from our home in Scotland – as it’s a long way, we decided to stop for the night in Lancaster. We pulled in to the Lancaster Premier Inn car park. I got out of the car, closed the door, walked a couple of steps, collapsed and died. |
| Related: At my father's bedside, I learned what death looks like | |
| There were no warning signs, nothing. Nothing to suggest I would drop down dead in the middle of a car park. | There were no warning signs, nothing. Nothing to suggest I would drop down dead in the middle of a car park. |
| Fortunately for me, a stranger saw this and dialled 999 while my husband was still realising the gravity of the situation. He didn’t realise I was gone. The first-responder paramedic arrived, guided by more strangers to my side, bringing a portable defibrillator with him. He administered CPR and managed to bring me back after a second shock. | Fortunately for me, a stranger saw this and dialled 999 while my husband was still realising the gravity of the situation. He didn’t realise I was gone. The first-responder paramedic arrived, guided by more strangers to my side, bringing a portable defibrillator with him. He administered CPR and managed to bring me back after a second shock. |
| By this point, the ambulance had arrived and I was transferred to Lancaster Royal infirmary. On my way there, they lost me and got me back again before I got to A&E, where I was cooled down and put into an induced coma. | By this point, the ambulance had arrived and I was transferred to Lancaster Royal infirmary. On my way there, they lost me and got me back again before I got to A&E, where I was cooled down and put into an induced coma. |
| Related: The secret ICU doctor's diary: 'The borderline decisions are the hardest' | |
| I was transferred to intensive care and spent about three weeks in cardiac care in Lancaster. The doctors still aren’t sure what actually happened – they believe one part of my heart had not been working as well as the other bit. Eventually, I was transferred to Blackpool, where I was fitted with an ICD [implantable cardioverter defibrillator]. | I was transferred to intensive care and spent about three weeks in cardiac care in Lancaster. The doctors still aren’t sure what actually happened – they believe one part of my heart had not been working as well as the other bit. Eventually, I was transferred to Blackpool, where I was fitted with an ICD [implantable cardioverter defibrillator]. |
| We think I lost about four or five days when it happened. For a few days, every time I woke up, they had to re-explain the situation to me. There are still things I don’t quite remember from around that time. For example, we were at the Glenfiddich piping championships 24 hours before it happened and I can’t actually remember any of it now. | We think I lost about four or five days when it happened. For a few days, every time I woke up, they had to re-explain the situation to me. There are still things I don’t quite remember from around that time. For example, we were at the Glenfiddich piping championships 24 hours before it happened and I can’t actually remember any of it now. |
| Related: The NHS saved my life: I can't count all those who helped me after a stroke | Related: The NHS saved my life: I can't count all those who helped me after a stroke |
| I can’t separate out one department from another in my case: from the action of the first responder to the watchful care of the nursing staff and doctors in every department I was in, I received seamless, patient and skilled care. | I can’t separate out one department from another in my case: from the action of the first responder to the watchful care of the nursing staff and doctors in every department I was in, I received seamless, patient and skilled care. |
| I have gone back to visit the hospital and thank the staff that saved my life. I was simply one emergency admission that crossed their professional lives. I even got to meet the first responder who came that day. I remember he couldn’t stop grinning at me. One of the girls on the cardiac care department said to me: “Do you know how rare this is?” | I have gone back to visit the hospital and thank the staff that saved my life. I was simply one emergency admission that crossed their professional lives. I even got to meet the first responder who came that day. I remember he couldn’t stop grinning at me. One of the girls on the cardiac care department said to me: “Do you know how rare this is?” |
| The whole episode was life-changing for me, but the attention and care the staff showed me during those weeks is delivered to every patient that needs them. | The whole episode was life-changing for me, but the attention and care the staff showed me during those weeks is delivered to every patient that needs them. |
| These people saved my life. Not once, but a couple of times. I have no idea what their names are or even anything about their lives. But they saved mine. | These people saved my life. Not once, but a couple of times. I have no idea what their names are or even anything about their lives. But they saved mine. |
| Every so often, if things seem really bad, I realise I’m actually on my second life. I’ve been given a second chance – somehow, thank you doesn’t seem enough. | Every so often, if things seem really bad, I realise I’m actually on my second life. I’ve been given a second chance – somehow, thank you doesn’t seem enough. |