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First aider who collapsed during lesson saved by trainees | First aider who collapsed during lesson saved by trainees |
(35 minutes later) | |
A retired nurse talked his trainees through saving his own life when he suffered heart failure during a CPR lecture. | A retired nurse talked his trainees through saving his own life when he suffered heart failure during a CPR lecture. |
David Knowles was delivering a first aid course to members of his Exeter church group when he started feeling unwell. | David Knowles was delivering a first aid course to members of his Exeter church group when he started feeling unwell. |
The 77-year-old said he felt dizzy and weak, and had to lie down. | The 77-year-old said he felt dizzy and weak, and had to lie down. |
He then instructed his trainees, who thought he was role playing, on what to do before he passed out. | He then instructed his trainees, who thought he was role playing, on what to do before he passed out. |
More Devon and Cornwall news | |
"I had just started my lecture and we were talking about cardiopulmonary resuscitation," Mr Knowles said. | "I had just started my lecture and we were talking about cardiopulmonary resuscitation," Mr Knowles said. |
"The more senior members of the group had asked for a demonstration...she thought I was role playing, but I told her it was real and that I was going to lose consciousness." | "The more senior members of the group had asked for a demonstration...she thought I was role playing, but I told her it was real and that I was going to lose consciousness." |
'I woke up weeks later' | 'I woke up weeks later' |
Mr Knowles, a St John Ambulance volunteer, went into cardiac arrest, but his trainees called 999 and gave him CPR until an ambulance crew arrived. | Mr Knowles, a St John Ambulance volunteer, went into cardiac arrest, but his trainees called 999 and gave him CPR until an ambulance crew arrived. |
"I'm told I came to, briefly, and was talking to the paramedics about my condition, but the next thing I remember is waking up in hospital, two and a half weeks later," he said. | "I'm told I came to, briefly, and was talking to the paramedics about my condition, but the next thing I remember is waking up in hospital, two and a half weeks later," he said. |
Mr Knowles was alone setting up his lecture in the church rooms on 16 February for between 10 and 20 minutes before his students arrived. | Mr Knowles was alone setting up his lecture in the church rooms on 16 February for between 10 and 20 minutes before his students arrived. |
St John Ambulance said if he had gone into cardiac arrest during that period, with no-one on hand to revive him, he would almost certainly have died. | St John Ambulance said if he had gone into cardiac arrest during that period, with no-one on hand to revive him, he would almost certainly have died. |
At the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Mr Knowles suffered a further cardiac arrest and a pulmonary embolism. | At the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Mr Knowles suffered a further cardiac arrest and a pulmonary embolism. |
He was hospitalised for five weeks, and left hospital in mid-March. | He was hospitalised for five weeks, and left hospital in mid-March. |
Doctors feared he might have suffered brain damage, that his internal organs could have been affected by his ordeal and predicted he would need months of rehabilitation. | Doctors feared he might have suffered brain damage, that his internal organs could have been affected by his ordeal and predicted he would need months of rehabilitation. |
But medics say he is making excellent progress, is mentally alert and can walk unaided as he continues to recover at home in Newtown, Exeter. | But medics say he is making excellent progress, is mentally alert and can walk unaided as he continues to recover at home in Newtown, Exeter. |